Monday, March 2, 2015

New Geography


                                   

East Cambridge’s bounded on the west by foul and marshy ground,
Where never failing springs of filth lend to the sweetness round;
While on the north the piggery protects the borders well
From any skulking enemy by its death-dealing smell.
The east is bounded by the Charles that once was pure and clear,
Of which the dear ol’ poet sang in some long bygone year;
But now the native’s (scents) of right is daily growing keen
And handkerchiefs need come in play when e’er they cross the sheen.
The south is bounded by a ditch – some call it a canawl,
But I should say ‘twas an outlet of nastiness an’ gall.
Adjoining lies a stretch of ground I’ll give it in a lump:
A rotten mass of deathly stench politely called “the dump”.
Dog Island boasts of one small lake whose silvery wavelet reach
And lick the golden sands that shine upon the “net shop beach”.
The principal industry is the breeding of small cur
Which roam at large the livelong day and bite without demur.
The inhabitants are noted for the lands they represent,
And the mixture on Dog Island is a thing of wonderment.
But the population’s healthy and is waxing strong each day;
Caused by the balmy zephyrs that are wafted every way.



March 2, ‘91




Note – This poem was crossed out in the original, hand-written collection

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