Father’s opinion of savages <br />And dogs, a gay Bloomsbury epigram: <br />‘The brutes may possibly have souls,’ he says, <br />‘But reason, no. Nevertheless, I am <br />Prepared not to extend this to my spouse <br />And children.’ This demands a careful pity: <br />Poor Father! Whooping and romping in their house, <br />A holiday from ruin in the City. <br />His wit falls flat, his tie just will not tie. <br />The dog’s in chains, the reasonable books <br />Grazed by his children as they learn to fly. <br />He takes his dear wife’s arm (his hands grow hooks). <br />Pirates and pudding! Come, such cruelty! <br /> <br />His beard is branching like a burning tree. <br /> <br /> <br />“Edwardian Christmas” from Collected Poems, published by Chatto & Windus<br /><br />John Fuller<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/edwardian-christmas/
