Politician - Parody After Stephen Spender - Airman Poem by Jonathan ROBIN

Politician

He will watch the poll with no indifferent eye,
most pitifully, -
not on those voters who once cheered him, now
will strain his brow.
Weapons men use, mud-slinging, smear, tapped telephone,
all these he’s known.

This aristocrat, superb, until instinct
with death close-linked,
had faced the amorphous crowd, almost had won
war on the sun, ...
til now, ... like Icarus mid-ocean drowned,
his hopes unfound.

[c] Jonathan Robin parody written 7 August 1991 after Stephen SPENDER 1909_1995 - Airman


Airman

He will watch the hawk with an indifferent eye
Or pitifully:
Nor on those eagles that so feared him, now
Will strain his brow;
Weapons men use, stone, sling, and strong-thewed bow
He will not know.

This aristocrat, superb of all instinct,
With death close-linked
Had paced the enormous cloud, almost had won
War on the sun;
Till now, like Icarus mid-ocean drowned,
Hands, wings, are found.

Stephen SPENDER 1909_1995