John Betjeman
John Betjeman
Sir John Betjeman, CBEwas an English poet, writer, and broadcaster who described himself in Who's Who as a "poet and hack". He was Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom from 1972 until his death...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionPoet
Date of Birth28 August 1906
dying earth fun ill terrified
But I'm dying now and done for, / What on earth was all the fun for? / For I'm old and ill and terrified and tight.
hunter miss
Miss J. Hunter Dunn, Miss J. Hunter Dunn,/ Furnish'd and burnish'd by Aldershot sun.
bear norfolk spirits
Spirits of well-shot woodcock, partridge, snipe / Flutter and bear him up the Norfolk sky.
gas
The gas was on in the Institute, / The flare was up in the gym.
cook phone
Phone for the fish-knives, Norman, / As Cook is a little unnerved; / You kiddies have crumpled the serviettes / And I must have things daintily served.
adore full girl great sports strength
Pam, I adore you, Pam, you great big mountainous sports girl / Whizzing them over the net, full of the strength of five.
children dark sight
Childhood is measured out by sounds and smells and sights, before the dark hour of reason grows.
passion past thinking
And I think it was the outline of that church tower at Belaugh against the sky which gave me a passion for churches so that every church I've past since I've wanted to stop and look in.
loneliness lying clouds
And behind their frail partitions Business women lie and soak, Seeing through the draughty skylight Flying clouds and railway smoke. Rest you there, poor unbelov'd ones, Lap your loneliness in heat, All too soon the tiny breakfast, Trolley-bus and windy street!
dear-lord waiting culinary
And now, dear Lord, I cannot wait Because I have a luncheon date.
simple hymns two
There are two thing you need for a jolly good hymn.The first is a set of words that expresses the mood or sentiment of the worshipper.The second-and perhaps even more important- is a good tune..with a simple popular melody.
missing strange granted
It's strange that those we miss the most Are those we take for granted.
mistake bombs sake
Gracious Lord, oh bomb the Germans. Spare their women for Thy Sake, And if that is not too easy, We will pardon Thy Mistake. But, gracious Lord, whate'er shall be, Don't let anyone bomb me.
visions-of-the-future towers fields
I have a Vision of the Future, chum. The workers flats in fields of soya beans tower up like silver pencils, score on score.