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DEBUTANTES

Whatever happened to the debonair

those vile bodies without a care

the Mayfair Johnnies

Burlington Berties,

scamp scaramouche

the amoral

the louche?

 

Where did they go

the quick quick slow

scoffing in Bentleys

in the know

 

was it the war

that buried them deep,

put these scalliwags to sleep?

 

with their debutantes, groomed for season

bouquet bounty fresh from the County.

 

In moribund grace and favour homes

those secrets still hang on leathery tongues

of west end follies

so indiscreet

where legends staggered into the street.

 

 

◄ EXODUS

REGRET FOR A LOST PAUSE ►

Comments

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raypool

Fri 5th May 2017 14:34

Thanks David for observations always appreciated. As i'm sure you have, I met examples of this type over the years, and they basically have to go; at the same time I feel a certain quality of style and appreciation goes with them in some cases. Sewell with his hyper sensitivity to all things glorious was obviously a complete case - again sorry he had to go along with his column.

Paul, interestingly bloody marvellous idea. I read at an evening with Steve Pottinger as a guest and I always try to learn as I go . A great bloke; I do admittedly have an edge with accents ; they should be used sparingly otherwise people just listen to the sound. Roll out the caravan! aythangyow.

Thanks Mark. I think your comment is a kind of backup to the world of Oscar Wilde - although in his case he was not subtle. Good manners sadly don't seem to resonate with modern life - but there is a substitute ( Enjoy! and No problem at all ! when being served). You can take a monkey wrench to make adjustments but is it the real thing?

Bless all youse. Ray

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M.C. Newberry

Thu 4th May 2017 16:23

Immensely enjoyable with its evocation of a time when such accents were the norm on the BBC and elsewhere
for those of a certain age who can remember. I agree
with PW about the Brian Sewell tone...perfect for the
material.
One thing in their favour...those Burlington Berties and their gals...they kept their anguish and their disappointments
hidden. It was a code known as "good manners". Wish
we had a few more nowadays.

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Paul Waring

Thu 4th May 2017 16:09

Fantastic Ray, I'd love to see you perform this (and your other stuff) live! After seeing Laura Taylor and Steve Pottinger perform so brilliantly in Liverpool last night, I can just see you starring alongside them in the future - the WriteOutLoud Roadshow, touring the UK and beyond ?

p.s. great Brian Shhhhewwwwwwell accent, by the way!

Paul

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