Bergman Film, 1963

It was a Swedish film they said, Mixing real life, truth and art, A little bit expressive they said, Which for us was a jolly good start And when Sunday the good Father Preached to go and see it was a sin The street outside was crowded As we quietly queued to get in. This was the early 1960’s When standards had to be preserved What was outrageous then would Now be considered quite reserved. There was Sex and there was Symbolism There was Fear, Anxiety, Angst and Doubt. I watched the whole film enthralled No idea what it was all about At later showings we found Due to the films”s notoriety And to enable a continuing Sense of community propriety At a given signal they had to hold Sheets of paper before their eyes To avoid seiing certain scenes And keep Innocence uncompromised But, it was Art and it was Sex, Displayed on the silver screen And despite the Father’s warnings Me and most of the village had been. It was never mentioned in the bar Later on when we went for a drink, Just the odd embarrassed grin And the occasional knowing wink.