Rigid and dead - Miss Joan Hunter Dunn, Miss Joan Hunter Dunn, John Betjeman died on May 19th 1984, at his home in Trebetherick. " + 84 relevant experts are online Hire writer Them up the cliff and oer the hedge. but much of his particulars depend upon understanding already the code of a man's upper-middle class 20th c. english life. And now Im engaged to Miss Joan Hunter Dunn. Surry twilight! Miss J.Hunter Dunn, Miss J.Hunter Dunn, Is yours the song the angels sang? The free tracks you can enjoy in the Poetry Archive are a selection of a poets work. To the six-oclock news and a lime-juice and gin. And cool the verandah that welcomes us in Read more. Of rain and blizzard, sea and spray, How mad I am, sad I am, glad that you won, Below us, till the wind would lift Sir John Betjeman (1906-1984) was UK Poet Laureate from 1972 until his death, and became one of Britain's best-loved poets of the twentieth century. Top 10 John Betjeman Poems 1 The Arrest of Oscar Wilde at the Cadogan Hotel 2 Hunter Trials 3 The Village Inn 4 A Subaltern's Love Song 5 Upper Lambourne 6 Executive 7 Senex 8 Slough 9 In Westminster Abbey 10 Christmas And sea come flooding up the lane. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Almost exactly two years ago, in the summer of 2019, my wife and I travelled to Europe. And golden sand was brown again, A gin and orange, a lemon squash, and a scotch and water, please. He has some brilliant poems. COLLECTED POEMS. RT @SaveStAlbansftf: A poem by John Betjeman about Slough in 1937. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Oh! When his Collected Poems was published in 1955, it was a bestseller. The use and reuse of this refrain gives A Subalterns Love Song a song-like quality. The last stanza of A Subalterns Love Song makes use of anaphora with the repetition of And at the beginning of the first, second, and third lines. weakness of joy, Christmas. 10 of the Best John Betjeman Poems Poet Lovers Must Read - Poem Analysis Former Poet Laureate of Great Britain John has/had both, in life and death, mixed responses to his poetry. strongly adorable tennis-girl's hand! CassandraVoices on Twitter: "Bernadette Gorman reviews Dominic Moseley Recommend the later edition, which includes the uncollected poems and. J oan Hunter Dunn has died at 92 and the obituarists are despairing. weakness of joy, The speed of a swallow, the grace of a boy, With carefullest carelessness, gaily you won, I am weak from your loveliness, Joan Hunter Dunn Miss Joan Hunter Dunn, Miss Joan Hunter Dunn, How mad I am, sad I am, glad that you won, On your low-leaded window, Miss Joan Hunter Dunn. To get it ready for the plough. Says 'Merry Christmas to you all'. Into nine-o'clock Camberley, heavy with bells Register now and publish your best poems or read and bookmark your favorite popular famous poems. Euonymus is a shrub or tree that is popular due to its bright colours. Her technique is the carefullest carelessness and she is always happy when she wins. Betjeman is going to be addressing her throughout. The pictures of Egypt are bright on the wall, In the first stanza of A Subalterns Love Song the speaker, who is Betjeman himself, repeats his love interests name twice. by John Betjeman. We sat in the car park till twenty to one Each of these quatrains follows a specific rhyme scheme, conforming to the pattern of AABB CCDD, and so on, alternating end sounds as the poet saw fit. He was Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom from 1972 until his death. But my shock-headed victor, she loves me no less. And cool the verandah that welcomes us in importunate band! check the excerpts: Betjeman's verse is refreshing even unto this day. A Shropshire Lad poem - John Betjeman - Best Poems Here are a few of my favourite titles: I have always liked Betjeman's poems and became more interested in him years ago after reading a memoir by his granddaughter of her grandmother. Sir John Betjeman - Poems by the Famous Poet - All Poetry Dunn comes down the stairs and the light is on her hair. English Love Poems Paperback John Betjeman 9780571070657 | eBay Miss Joan Hunter Dunn, Miss Joan Hunter Dunn, by John Betjeman. And there the Shade of Evil could Baldwin, Emma. Betjeman wrote extensively about his early experiences in the blank-verse poem Summoned By Bells, which describes a largely idyllic childhood threatened by events in the larger world. The poet likely crafted this alternative ending, in which the two sit in the car park till twenty to one and talk in order to bring about a turn of events he always desired. Miss J.Hunter Dunn, Miss J.Hunter Dunn, Miss Joan Hunter Dunn, Miss Joan Hunter Dunn, And swing past the summer-house, buried in talk, She has, The speed of a swallow, the grace of a boy.. My sweet, I am standing beside the oak stair Grew deep and tufted to the edge; The Church's Restoration In twenty-twenty-three Has left for contemplation Not what there used to be. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so. We used to picnic where the thrift Born in 1906, Betjeman grew up in the suburbs of north London. And here on my right is the girl of my choice, Poetry Archive Now Wordview 2022: The Race, Poetry Archive Now Wordview 2022: Sunday March 11, 2022 a child is, Poetry Archive Now Wordview 2022: A Season of Grief. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Hunter Dunn, Furnish'd and burnish'd by Aldershot sun, What strenuous singles we played after tea, We in the tournament - you against me! Work for the Architectural Review fuelled a lifelong passion for unloved Victorian buildings, which Betjeman campaigned tirelessly to save, in later life becoming known as much for his architectural programmes; recognisable by his large waist and avuncular style. By roads not adopted, by woodlanded ways, With carefullest carelessness, gaily you won, Rose rigid and dead from the old canal Structure and Form. "Let us not speak, for the love we bear one another. What can be said of the woman who inspired the most famous middle-brow love poem of the 20th century, John Betjeman's A. This sets him apart from the environment hes in. weakness of joy, You will receive mail with link to set new password. The sun shone low on the railway line For we dance at the Golf Club, my victor and I. Email This Poem to a Friend. To Ralph, Vasey, Alistair, Biddy, John and me. John Betjeman was without question the most popular poet of the twentieth century and his poems have been bought and read by millions. I have a Vision of the Future, chum. The last year's leaves are on the beech: The twigs are black; the cold is dry; To deeps byond the deepest reach. Squelch of the bladder-wrack waiting for the sea, The workers flats in fields of soya beans tower up like silver pencils, score on score. And the cream-coloured walls are be-trophied with sports, Bernadette Gorman reviews Dominic Moseley's Betjeman in Ireland, where he exhibited a 'particular' fondness for 'people who had gone to seed'. A similar technique seen in A Subalterns Love Song is caesura in which a line is divided into two parts, usually on either side of a common, with equal syllables. Love-thirty, love-forty, oh! And the scent of her wrap, and the words never said, Betjeman repeats Miss Joan Hunter Dunn twice in the first line, mimicking the first line of the first stanza. Their dynamic is consistent. This page has been archived and is no longer updated. It speaks to something romantic about the unknown or the exotic.. To the six-o'clock news and a lime-juice and gin. The Best Loved Poems of John Betjeman - Alibris The speaker is getting dressed later in the evening, amongst the scent of the conifers. There is a bath running and he can look out his window and see moss-dappled path. The various images of natural scenes in the poem reference traditional love poetry and a long history of natures beauty is associated with a womans. He did like to write about churches and the natural world a lot but if I had to read a British poet I'd much rather read one of Betjeman's than Larkin and the like. And over the valley in Ironbridge, Poem Analysis, https://poemanalysis.com/john-betjeman/a-subalterns-love-song/. He served as Poet Laureate from 1972 until his death. With carefullest carelessness, gaily you won, Her grandfather, Andrew Hunter Dunn, was Bishop of Quebec from 1892 to 1914, and her uncle Edward Dunn . Go to Quote / Comment, Keep our Empire undismembered guide our Forces by Thy Hand, gallant blacks from far Jamaica, Honduras and Togoland; protect them Lord in all their fights, and even more, protect the whites. The first line of this stanza, which speaks to Dunns fathers euonymus makes it seem that it is definitely Dunn who owns the house. In trembling sponges on the ledge In the licorice fields at Pontefract My love and I did meet And many a burdened licorice bush Was blooming round our feet; Red hair she had and golden skin, Her sulky lips were shaped for sin, Her sturdy legs were flannel-slack'd The strongest legs in Pontefract. Hunter Dunn, By roads "not adopted", by woodlanded ways, And the ominous, ominous dancing ahead. () He certainly was the peoples poet, Betjeman's poems are very accessible but still beautifully written. This shows his continued dedication to her and excitement over her simple presence. Fleas around the tamarisk, an early cigarette. [160] Television Discography Joan Jackson, ne Joan Hunter Dunn (13 October 1915 - 11 April 2008) was the muse of Sir John Betjeman in his poem "A Subaltern's Love-song". And mushroomy, pine-woody, evergreen smells. The lines also follow a consistent metrical pattern. I can hear from the car park the dance has begun, Not while we love the church and live And of our charity will give . A Subaltern's Love Song: 10: Slough: 11: Loneliness: 12: The Irish Unionist's farewell to Greta Hellastrom in 1922: 13: Business Girls: 14: Guilt: 15: Meditation on the A30: 16: Sun and Fun: 17: For we dance at the Golf Club, my victor and I. http://www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/singlePoem.do?poemId=1537 It makes him sad and mad, as maybe hed like to win sometimes and have the upper hand, but the fact that she is happy makes him glad. Oh! But my shock-headed victor, she loves me no less. There are no jobs or tasks to complete. https . He ends up waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs and they drive together to the club. ? () A subaltern is someone in theBritish army below the rank ofcaptain, or morebroadly, someone of a lower status. "A Subaltern's Love Song by John Betjeman". And the scent of her wrap, and the words never said, And westering, questioning settles the sun, " Slough " is a ten-stanza poem by Sir John Betjeman, first published in his 1937 collection Continual Dew . Her father's euonymus shines as we walk, provided at no charge for educational purposes, http://www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/singlePoem.do?poemId=1537, https://allpoetry.com/poem/15081727-Miss-Joan-Hunter-Dunn-by-Cignolago, https://allpoetry.com/poem/11156053-Miss_Beau-Ashfield-Smyth___Miss_Beau-Ashfield-Smyth_-by-Poettraveler-noguest, Sonnet 116: 'Let me not to the marriage of true minds', A Child Ill by J. Betjeman (to his young son). How mad I am, sad I am, glad that you won, The poet repeats her name, Miss Joan Hunter Dunn twice in a line. () he captures a particular time, place, class, gender of english experience in compelling and daredevil fashion. The speed of a swallow, the grace of a boy, These images start the poem on a cozy and familiar note. When Captain Webb the Dawley man, They are living a luxurious life there, one that allows them a lot of free time to play tennis. The Hillman is waiting, the light's in the hall, Here are a few random quotes by John Betjeman. This meant for a reading on two levels for me: firstly, as a person reasonably well-versed in poetry (pun intended), it appealed on a personal level; secondly it enabled me to play detective for my father's sensibilities which, I must add, seem no further illuminated by the reading. We sat in the car park till twenty to one The warm-handled racket is back in its press, A statue of Betjeman stands at London's St Pancras station, which he fought to save. Less familiar to readers of traditional love songs is the context in which the woman is described. There were times I'd ask my husband if he'd like to hear a poem, and I'd read aloud the next one, and we'd both sit there gut-punched afterwards. Were always adding to the Poetry Archive so sign up to our newsletter to keep up to date with the latest archive news, events and releases. This volume, the first American edition of the iCollected Poems, /iincorporates all the poems that Betjeman published after the original iCollected Poems/i and includes a new foreword by Britain's poet laureate, Andrew Motion. Fleas around the tamarisk, an early cigarette. Loneliness poem - John Betjeman - Best Poems Miss Joan Hunter Dunn, Miss Joan Hunter Dunn, The scent of the conifers, sound of the bath, - All Poetry A Subaltern's Love Song Miss J.Hunter Dunn, Miss J.Hunter Dunn, Furnish'd and burnish'd by Aldershot sun, What strenuous singles we played after tea, We in the tournament - you against me! This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. To the Congregational Hall; This occurs when a word or phrase is repeated multiple times at the beginning of successive, or closely placed, lines. Eliot's pupil. Poem Solutions Limited, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London, EC1A 2BN, United Kingdom. Publication date 2009 Publisher London : Faber and Faber Collection inlibrary; printdisabled . This collection shows the progression of his work, and led me to discover some new favourites in addition to the ones I already liked. Most of the time it was difficult to understand where some of his poems were coming from when a majority of them were based on English towns to which I have never been to or experienced. Furnish'd and burnish'd by Aldershot sun, BBC Four: Betjeman audio interviews (requires RealPlayer). Let us hold hands and look." She such a very ordinary little woman; He such a thumping crook; But both, for a moment, little lower than the angels. Join Poetry+ to enjoy all of the benefits. John Betjeman - John Betjeman Poems | Best Poems () At this moment the sun is going down, and that changes the lighting in the room. 1 Summary 2 Poetic Techniques 3 Analysis of A Subaltern's Love Song Summary ' A Subaltern's Love Song ' by John Betjeman is a humorous, upbeat poem that tells of the real-life love the poet had for Miss Joan Hunter Dunn. How mad I am, sad I am, glad that you won, strongly adorable tennis-girl's hand! weakness of joy, I tend to favour blank verse but the rhyming in his poetry never feels forced, he has such a range of vocabulary. Profanity : Our optional filter replaced words with *** on this page , by owner. The view from my bedroom of moss-dappled path, Summoned By Bells, the long poem at the end of the book, is a truly great autobiography. The poem begins with the speaker describing the lead up to Christmas and how everything in a church is decorated for Advent. episode 103: On the Tower, the Sixteenth Card of the Tarot. We in the tournament you against me! I am weak from your loveliness, Joan Hunter Dunn It is based on someones personal opinions and beliefs. Our catalogue store includes many more recordings which you can download to your device. There is no other poet remotely like him and this collection of favourites is a perfect reminder of his extraordinary originality and . Some of my favourites were the arrest of Oscar Wilde at the Cadogan Hotel, Diary of a Church Mouse, In Westminster Abbey, and of course. Love-thirty, love-forty, oh! The British town of Slough was used as a dump for war surplus materials in the interwar years, [1] and then abruptly became the home of 850 new factories just before World War II. For we dance at the Golf Club, my victor and I. They are staying in a large house which is clearly owned by Dunns family. Sir John Betjeman CBE ( / btmn /; 28 August 1906 - 19 May 1984) was an English poet, writer, and broadcaster. I am weak from your loveliness, Joan Hunter Dunn. importunate band! Perhaps Betjeman always wanted to make the full extent of his emotions known, but was unable. On your low-leaded window, Miss Joan Hunter Dunn. 1st Lines 20+ John Betjeman Poems - Poem Analysis To the Saturday evening meeting. By roads "not adopted", by woodlanded ways, There is another traditionally romantic moment in the fourth line. Rather than go inside though, it appears that the two stay in the car talking. He sees her as moving effortlessly. Works of John Betjeman - Wikipedia Very British, at times very comfortable but nothing radically new. I hadn't really intended to read this whole collection, but ended up enjoying many of the poems so much that I did read the book cover to cover. When we saw the ghost of Captain Webb, The verandah welcomed them and they have somewhere to relax. Whether talking about people, nature or life, Betjeman's poetry rings true and does not sound analytic. Come friendly bombs and fall on Slough!It isn't fit for humans now, There are no longer poems available for this poet, Michelle Ryan, Alex James and more on their favourite poets, Watch Ian McMillan's tips on writing poems for special occasions, John Betjeman reads Diary of a Church Mouse. A man was running a mineral line, #EnglishWriters works 53 Words 2,973 When the beloved English poet John Betjeman's Collected Poems first appeared in 1958, it made publishing history, and has now sold more than two million copies to a steadily expanding readership. On the floor of her bedroom lie blazer and shorts, For we dance at the Golf Club, my victor and I. On your low-leaded window, Miss Joan Hunter Dunn. When the beloved English poet John Betjeman's Collected Poems first appeared in 1958, it made publishing history, and has now sold more than two million copies to a steadily expanding readership. As I struggle with double-end evening tie, On your low-leaded window, Miss Joan Hunter Dunn. BBC 2014 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. This poem is touched with genius a nice rhyming story poemindeed.Marvelousflow in this. The scene is a rustic smelling one. Dripping along - Of the Dawley houses' backs Around us are Rovers and Austins afar, John Betjeman : poems by Betjeman, John, 1906-1984. A Subalterns Love Song by John Betjeman is an eleven stanza poem that is divided into sets of four lines, or quatrains. It is the end of the game and the end of the day in the fourth stanza of A Subalterns Love Song. Accessed 28 June 2023. In regards to the refrain, it occurs three times in the text. Travel, more often than not references to Egypt, appear within traditional love songs. Above us the intimate roof of the car, Lost your password? Betjeman is looked down on by some as a versifier; in fact he was an accomplished poet with a sharp eye and something to say that needed to be said. But his less then complementary poem Slough angered the residents of the Berkshire town when it first appeared in 1937. Read more. John Betjeman - Poems, Biography, Quotes And the ominous, ominous dancing ahead. Poems such as 'Death in Leamington' , Upper Lambourne', 'Christmas' and 'Youth and Age on Beaulieu River, Hants'. It shows that she is a celebrated athlete, in more sports than just tennis. As part of my annual book challenge I had to read a book of poetry - not my normal reading fare! And swing past the summer-house, buried in talk, And the pheasant and the rabbit lay torn open at the throat. Lonely round the hedge, the heavy meadow was remote, And mushroomy, pine-woody, evergreen smells. beneath the trappings is a poet warmly attuned to the joys and shames of modern life. Came swimming along the old canal And mushroomy, pine-woody, evergreen smells. by John Betjeman. This leads to the last line, announcing that they got engaged. Theyre going to a dance at a Golf Club, and are getting into their best clothes. An Edwardian Sunday, Broomhill, Sheffield. I am weak from your loveliness, Joan Hunter Dunn, The speaker utilizes the points system of tennis to show his passion for this woman in the first line. To the Saturday congregation, So many people have written about JB's poetry, what can I add? All of John Betjeman Poems. Furnish'd and burnish'd by Aldershot sun, A Subaltern's Love Song by John Betjeman is an example of poetry that takes the reader on a journey of music and a love story. All the elements of the dance excite him, especially the tennis-girls hand.. The warm-handled racket is back in its press, A few of the poems, like Slough, were enjoyable to read, but I felt nothing from a lot of them. She was the daughter of Dr George Hunter Dunn, a GP from Farnborough, Hampshire. By his death in 1984, he was probably the 20th century's most popular Poet Laureate. "Slough" is one of my all-time favorite poems, and earned the fourth star. John Betjeman Poetry Collection from Famous Poets and Poems. And there on the landing's the light on your hair. bernadette Gorman on Twitter: "RT @VoicesCassandra: Bernadette Gorman Come dripping along in a bathing dress Recording from The Talking Tape Co in association with The Poetry Society, 'Sir John Betjeman Reading a Selection of His Own Poems', 1967, used by permission of The Poetry Society. At school his German name marked him out for the . And cool the verandah that welcomes us in Internet Archive Language English. Oh! Thick with sloe and blackberry, uneven in the light, And here on my right is the girl of my choice, To the Saturday evening meeting. John Betjeman was knighted in 1969 and became Britain's poet laureate, succeeding C.Day-Lewis in 1972. Love-thirty, love-forty, oh! What strenuous singles we played after tea, BBC - Poetry Season - Poets - John Betjeman The refrain, Miss Joan Hunter Dunn, Miss Joan Hunter Dunn, is a perfect example. The scent of the conifers, sound of the bath, Kevin Dale #NatureInMyBackYard on Twitter: "RT @SaveStAlbansftf: A Charity No. We struggled round to Greenaway. @SEGROplc is Slough Estates Group, developers for 100 years. And we were in a water world John Betjeman Poems - Poems by John Betjeman - Poem Hunter John Betjeman : poems : Betjeman, John, 1906-1984 : Free Download xvii, 93 pages ; 21 cm Sir John Betjeman (1906-84) was born in Highgate, the son of a manufacturer of Dutch descent. And the pheasant and the rabbit lay torn open at the throat. There wasn't a man in Oakengates Sir John Betjeman, CBE (28 August 1906 - 19 May 1984) was an English poet, writer, and broadcaster who described himself in Who's Who as a "poet and hack". It was only in reading these poems in conjunction with his biography (A.N. Waves full of treasure then were roaring up the beach, Copyright 2023 All rights reserved. The reasons for his happiness are piling up, but there is still a distance between them. My sweet, I am standing beside the oak stair Oh! Aftertaking in the wealth that Betjemans love interest, Miss JoanHunter Dunn has, it is clear that the poet consideredhimself a subaltern. This is his love song, spoken directly to his love. Life is but a momentary glimpse of the wonder of this astonishing universe, and it is sad to see so many dreaming it away on spiritual fantasy. Catholic Conclave on Twitter: "RT @BruvverEccles: The Church's These moments are special to the speaker, he feels weak from her loveliness. Other than these the poems were very English; lamenting the loss of the English countryside, the different classes of English society, religion and showing a fascination with churches, graveyards and death. Copyright 2008 - 2023 . weakness of joy, Miss Joan Hunter Dunn, Miss Joan Hunter Dunn, It is difficult to know at what moment love begins; it is less difficult to know that it has begun. I am weak from your loveliness, Joan Hunter Dunn. To the six-o'clock news and a lime-juice and gin. Her bedroom has cream-coloured walls and there are trophies stacked around. Enjambment, a common technique within Betjemans works, is utilized to great effect. Note: Betjeman, although married, was captivated by a work colleague called Joan Hunter Dunn and wrote this poem in 1940, fantasising about a parallel life with her. The Illustrated Poems of John Betjeman by John Betjeman 4.46 avg rating 26 ratings published 1995 4 editions Miss Joan Hunter Dunn, Miss Joan Hunter Dunn, The speed of a swallow, the grace of a boy, Her father's euonymus shines as we walk, There are examples throughout the text, the most prominent being the use and reuse of And.. Her fathers euonymus shines as we walk, Back From Australia. After this, they get ready to go out. A Subaltern's Love Song by John Betjeman - Poem Analysis A few more details about the scene are relayed by the speaker in the sixth stanza. John Betjeman | PoetrySoup Slough Come friendly bombs and fall on Slough! Joan Hunter Dunn - Wikipedia This is another trope of love poetry. A Subaltern's Love Song by Sir John Betjeman - StudyMoose Betjeman is almost unique among poets in that his work appeals equally strongly to those who love poetry and to those who rarely read it. . Dripping along - It isn't fit for humans now, There isn't grass to graze a cow. The collection covers all aspects of life from youth through to death. There is something mushroomy, pine-woody about it. Below is our selection of Betjeman's best poems, along with a short summary of each poem and a link to where you can read it. Collected Poems by John Betjeman, Paperback - Barnes & Noble Eccles on Twitter: "The Church's Restoration In twenty-twenty-three Has Anyone who considers him a frivolous poet would surely change their opinion if the read the Summoned by Bells poems. Oh! We struggled round to Greenaway. The poem begins with the speaker exclaiming over how much he cares for Dunn, and the joy he gets from playing tennis with her. With carefullest carelessness, gaily you won, By his death in 1984, he was probably the 20th century's most popular Poet Laureate. Dawlish Bird-watching colonels on the old sea wall, Down here at Dawlish where the slow trains crawl: Low tide lifting, on a shingle shore, Into nine-oclock Camberley, heavy with bells John Betjeman was an English poet and broadcaster. And now I'm engaged to Miss Joan Hunter Dunn. By roads not adopted, by woodlanded ways, Register now and publish your best poems or read and bookmark your favorite popular famous poems. His struggles with love interests (male and female), his friendships and loyalty with the Mitford sisters and others, his faith; High Anglicanism, his interaction with Catholicism, (interaction with Evelyn Waugh), love of trains and Classic Architecture. A lass was singing a hymn, John Betjeman (adapted) https://voetica.com . Above us the intimate roof of the car, The speaker is very excited by the prospect of the evening, but even more so by the fact that he is with Dunn. And there on the landing's the light on your hair. Oh! Oh! importunate band! Share your thoughts and be part of engaging discussions. Betjamin was more concerned with his social life and writing for university magazines than his academic studies and failed to complete his degree. Captain Webb from Dawley, In fact the poems were so memorable I could almost quote them word for word as I read them again for the first time in 35 years. There is no doubt that he is wholly focused on her. Hes remembered as a well-loved figure in the English poetry scene. Collected Poems by John Betjeman | Goodreads Business Girls. by John Betjeman. Around us are Rovers and Austins afar, How mad I am, sad I am, glad that you won, A Subaltern's Love Song poem - John Betjeman - Best Poems