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EDWARD II

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An historical poem, in as much as any story of Edward II having a hot poker shoved up his arse is historical.

 

“Prithee, knave, what scribe you there,

By candlelight and fire?”

 

“Your immortality’s the toil

On which I labour, sire.

For future generations

Your life and legacy

Transcribed upon these parchments

Your obituary.”

 

“And does this legacy describe

Affairs of court and state?

Or  matters more scholastic

By which men deem me great?

Or for the wars I fight against

The heathen that’s the Scot?

Or for my bounty trying to

Improve the peasants’ lot?

Or how the Earls of Lancaster,

Warwick, Arundel,

Were made to kneel before my throne;

Will your story tell?

Or of Gaveston, oh Gaveston,

My love, my heart, my light?

The times we shared together.”

 

“Your Majesty, not quite”.

The strapline really caters for

A readership more dumb

‘King ‘orribly gets put to death-

Hot poker up his bum’”.

🌷(4)

◄ SLEEP EASY

OLD FRIENDS ►

Comments

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John Coopey

Tue 16th Nov 2021 15:57

Many thanks, John.

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John Botterill

Tue 16th Nov 2021 11:33

I think this is brilliant, John. It satirises our modern desire to reduce every story into its 'controversial' elements.
Though perhaps that tendency is not modern at all? John Botterill




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Stephen Atkinson

Sun 14th Nov 2021 22:16

Aww, how thoughtful of them! ??

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John Coopey

Sun 14th Nov 2021 19:18

I think the technique, Stephen, is to shove a metal sleeve up first and then introduce the red hot poker down it. No wounds then, see?
Double the fun!

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Stephen Atkinson

Sun 14th Nov 2021 16:36

That's gotta hurt ! ? Written with skill & wit as always, John ?

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John Coopey

Sun 14th Nov 2021 16:07

Indeed,Stephen. I cry whenever I have my prostate exam.
I saw his tomb at Gloucester Cathedral, MC.
And thanks for the Like, Stephen A.

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M.C. Newberry

Sun 14th Nov 2021 14:01

I recall a visit to Berkeley Castle, to which Edward had been consigned by the evil queen and her lover Mortimer. It was
easy to imagine what a desolate place it must have overlooked
back then,.the nearest inhabitation a cluster of hovels beneath
its ramparts and the Severn sweeping by to add its mist and moisture to lower the spirits.. The couplet stays with me:
The screams through Berkeley's rafters ring
The shrieks of an agonising King.
The manner of his death was just as likely to be a bit of medieval vengeance for Edward's personal proclivities as well as a useful method of disguising evidence of murder.

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Stephen Gospage

Sun 14th Nov 2021 13:01

Brought tears to my eyes, John, if you see what I mean.

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John Coopey

Sun 14th Nov 2021 11:11

Thankyou for the Like, Holden.
I suspect the poker-up-the-bum story took hold because he was homosexual and was reinforced by Marlowe. (Chris, that is, not Phil).

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