The thief of time:
Miss Mona Stangley (Dolly Parton) is the owner of ‘The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas’, according to Hollywood*, offering entertainment of various kinds to many local Texans. However, Melvin P Thorpe, TV reporter, thought otherwise and publicises the illegal activities. He calls on the County Governor to close the ranch down.
The Governor, being a politician, reminds all in his song “The Sidestep”, that he is for progress, he flies the flag, a poor guy come to greatness. I seem to have heard those words many times closer to home. He also loves “to dance a little sidestep.” So do many of our politicians, who never give a straight answer to a question. Like old Nero, who fiddled whilst Rome burned, they procrastinate.
Sadly, Britain is no longer ‘Great’ nor the Kingdom ‘United’.
On the 23 June 2016, the country voted to leave the European Union having joined the Union in 1978. However, we did not officially leave the Union until 11pm on 31 January 2020. During that intervening period the behaviour of many Members of Parliament, across the floor, was disgusting. Far worse than those with banners and horns assembled outside the Houses of Parliament.
As a result of the vote, Prime Minister Cameron resigned on 23 June 2016. Prime Minister May, subsequently resigned on 24 May 2019. Prime Minister Boris Johnson took up office on 24 July 2019 and held a General Election on 12 December 2019.
COVID-19 arrived in the UK in March 2020, deflecting the consequences of BREXIT.
I was prompted to write a poem reflecting the reaction after the vote to leave was declared and the Members’ behaviour. The poem is in my book POEMS BY AN OLD CODGER – BOOK TWO *The 1982 film based on a book by Larry L King and Peter Masterson, lyrics by Carol Hall.
BREXIT DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT
Let’s ask the people, the PM said,
The question’s way above my head.
Do we leave or do we stay?
We will honour either way.
Oh dear! Oh dear! We are going to leave,
Let’s vote again and vote Remain,
But that will be one apiece, I believe,
Oh dear! we’ll have to go and vote again.
The nation looks on in utter dismay,
That men and women behave this way.
The noise within beats the noise without,
They jeer, they sneer, and they scream and shout.
What a torrid, ugly, bunch,
As they saunter in after their liquid lunch.
No laws to make, it’s just pure flannel,
Because they all come from across the channel.
So, let’s Remain and keep life simple,
Pontificate, ignore the facts.
A few more Acts are more than ample.
Past PMs and statesmen old,
With track records that leave us cold,
Interfere with the nation’s wishes.
Just stay home and do the dishes.
The world looks on as mother of all parliaments
Fiddles and sinks in its own dire sediments.
They are laughing out loud and falling about
In Brussels tonight, as ‘no change’ they shout.
Enough is enough, close down the Palace**,
And let the homeless use the place.
Trust and honesty are now lost,
We will never know what it all cost.
Your last voices have all been sung,
What an example for our very young.
** Westminster Palace.
Copyright 2023 Neil Davies
Questions are now being asked about this decision to leave the EU, with hindsight. I offer this poem to prompt discussion. My books are available on AMAZON BOOKS. Please tell you friends and family and better still, buy a copy. Proceeds are going to THE BRITISH RED CROSS UKRAINE APPEAL.
Thank you,
Stay safe,
Neil.