The Great Divide

Our ancestors roamed ‘cross the seas
way long before my time
and conquered lands so strange to us,
but ever so divine.

But since they crossed that salty pond
they’ve changed you must agree,
no man from here… the ‘motherland’
would waste our precious tea.

So now a ‘Great Divide’ appears
on both sides of the brine,
though all of us in our own way
are doing really fine.

I think that some must see us here
as ‘Lords and Ladies’ bold
or peasants wearing our flat caps
just doing as we’re told.

There’s them that feel an Englishman
must keep ‘stiff upper lip’
and never utter words that try
to make a funny quip.

I hadn’t really noticed this
‘til just the other day.
when passing comments on some rhyme
I tried to have my say.
 
I thought, alas, the authoress
would understand my lines
but she was very hurt by them
and said I was unkind.

But it’s a compliment to find
I’ve savoured all your rhyme,
took it to heart and then replied
though joking at the time.

I never would upset a friend
or so I thought ‘til then,
for poetry floods through ‘my’ veins
and ends up on my pen.

May I explain the humour here
is really from my heart,
the ‘words’ you see are just for fun,
it’s feelings I impart.

Oh tell me why I’m misconstrued,
I’ll hang my head in shame
if ever through my poetry
I hurt a friend again.

Shall I give up and go away,
have I just said enough.
No my friends, I’ve weathered well
I’m made of stronger stuff.

But please excuse my ramblings,
it’s what I feel inside
but if you do not get my joke
just blame ‘The Great Divide’

Ivor G Davies
Copyright © | Year Posted 2016

Poem

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Allison Avatar
February 12, 2016 at 12:43 PM
There definitely is a divide in language and humour across the briny sea I too have fallen foul:-( ... lets hope our differences can be be resolved for the sake of our poetry:-) hugs Jan xxx
Davies Avatar
February 13, 2016 at 4:39 AM
This was written many years ago after falling foul of mistaken humour on the first site I ever posted on. Actually I moved sites on Bea's advice as the particular site was not a good place for understanding!
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