Stefan Splawinski

far from the stress of modern life
countryside place of peace for us
between meadows and dorset downs
easily reached by the village bus
...

harry the hampshire hedgehog
was rather a snobbish beast
originally raised in berks
he cared for it the least
...

subjected to much ridicule
perennial objects of fun
givers of the worlds bread
just as essential as the sun
...

founder of an industrial religion
portrait featured on soviet murals
some upholder of the working class
a man who disliked slavs and rurals
...

mercedes benz marxists gather
keen to put the world to right
based only on a working class
quickly vanishing out of sight
...

who is the judge of us all
final assessor for humanity
great force beyond the world
check on our earthly vanity
...

public relations extravaganza
costly conjunction of dark arts
gay whimsy of info superhighway
victim to so many false starts
...

shibboleths so enshrined in law
standards of a valetudinary age
unchallenged by compliant folk
gladly living in a secure cage
...

populace held to ransom
confluence of evil hands
playhouse of the devils
rigid ideological stands
...

descent to the basement of man
arrives the age of no authority
balderdash disguised as science
solutions gave way to complexity
...

loneliest indian ocean island
on the atlas just a minute dot
set in swirling southern seas
french scientists secret spot
...

white tip of the dark continent
such a splendid harbour setting
the clock stood still for a while
those sands of time forgetting
...

canberra the exception proving the rule
garden city set in such an unlikely place
planned diplomatic and administrative hub
the inland capital of such a coastal race
...

our composer busy with piano work
every genius has a right to a say
writing and performing symphonies
then the white coats took him away
...

country house on a grand scale
far from northern industry grime
set amidst sylvan devon fields
plush retreat from modern time
...

high noon at frittenden
excitement at fever pitch
clash of soccers minnows
tactics without a hitch
...

august day at beauvais airport
dark skinned girl clad in white
returning from a loire chateau
slim and eyes sparkling bright
...

come travel with me far and wide
pin-up girl of the works canteen
my sweet conductress of few cares
ticket clippie from borough green
...

set between jail and army barracks
with cheap beer and kentish tarts
salute favershams shepherd neames
old public house of ale and darts
...

blonde auburn even brunette
handmaiden of satans schemes
only weakness of a mere man
comely wench fulfils dreams
...