While listening I couldn't get my head round the fact

that Andy played drums with the Spice Girls

that Robert used to slide his trombone outside hospitals

that Barney takes his cello to open fields

and that Chris (who released his first solo album in 2005) failed his 11+.

 

The generous sounds are being driven in a 4X4

to Mars where the electric motor (it's English)

can go 0-60 in only 2½ days and it's so quiet

all you can hear are heartbeats, talk of allotments

and that Chris (who's second album was Folk Album of the Year) failed his 11+

 

On a cold, rainy, windy night at the Westy

they're playing from the soon to be released “A Handmade Life”

about John Ball and the peasants revolt, the grief of widows,

Spitfires, the recession etc to an audience of domestic extremists

and saying that Chris (who was Folk Singer of the Year) failed his 11+

 

I'm moved by everything coming from his throat

and think that my poems are not even close

to a honey-tongued sonnet but at least they're honest

and I feel a need to stand up and confess I too failed my 11+

and what does it matter if Chris (who writes and sings these songs) failed his 11+