In archaic to beguile the
time now & again a dictionary
or some other book would be thrown
from the circumference & the tramping
boots of the bigger boys who can leap
hop, fight, dance, play cricket,
fish, swim, shoot,
play tennis, skate or fight
any man in Europe
it is natural & English-
bearing always as insignia of
office blood
in full regalia wide
collars falling to shoulders
and terminating
in large frilled caps
made of horsehair bulging
out air cushions
or sticking up whale bone pinnacles,
pantaloons of glaring colours
make young blood prick
& old blood warm
of crown down again
in tingle from the rod and
rub & rub & rub & rub
the stripes that throb &
burn adorned surrounded
by a moat half crept reeds strawberry
beds and cream by the
trembling culprit stands upon
the raised dais
in front of the court,
the field, the school
room but dormitory plucks indomitable
resolution in full play amusement of the
biggest boys in all the right company
who blush and grin
as the rod stirs the best bottle
of champagne law
