This Sceptred Isle
In 1773 the sun never set
on the British Empire so goes the story
now the 'Teatime Islands'
crumbs of Great Britain’s former glory
but as the moon rose over the White Cliffs of Dover
standing guard at the Gateway to England
ramparts the enemy to forestall
if the ravens left the Tower of London
the kingdom itself then would fall
and Britain would rule Gibraltar
one of the Pillars of Hercules
so long as macaques inhabit the Rock
another of man's legendary absurdities
but should those Barbary apes depart
the British too will soon follow
and the Overseas Territory come apart
yet to save the primate population
Winston Churhill did insist
in the early days of World War II
reinforcing British rule would persist
to ensure the troop replenishment
he issued a directive September 1944
for five such females brought from Morocco
to maintain the number at twenty-four
and so it seems my friend in the end
the continuance of this green and pleasant land
is in the balance and totally dependent on keeping
a certain breed of bird and Old World monkey on hand
Copyright © Martin Howard Samuel | Year Posted 2025
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