Prayer in the Care Home

How are you, John?
Did you enjoy
your bread 'n marmalade?

Now, let me see you
take your tablets:

tamazapam to help you sleep;
senna to open the bowels;
paracetamol for the pain.
Amen

The Longest Day

For some reason I watched it
- the film
- today.

Phones were big.
People often ended up in the wrong places;
It didn't always matter.
Sean Connery sounded the same.
People have short memories.

War depends on men being easily led;
That goes for goodies and baddies.
France was worth fighting for;
It still is.
People have short memories.

Soldiers dressed smartly;
Not a hair out of place. Still true.
They followed Hitler, they did.
The Germans that it - those ones.
People have short memories.

Normandy: famous for cider, butter, invasion.
Fuhrer: famous for loudness, temper, death.
They followed Hitler;
Managers, people, youth,that is.
People easily forget.

It's not a good idea to land in a town.
Unless you want to be there, that is.
It's not good to have your boots on the wrong feet.
Maybe it is now as it was then.
But people have short memories.

They lit their pipes, cigars, cigarettes.
And of course there is that bit at the end:
"He's dead. I'm crippled. You're lost."
And then, "I wonder who won".
People have short memories.

"O.K. Run me up the hill, son."