What rough beast…
   Jon Tipple in ‘The Granta’ 
   all randy laughter, Eraserhead hair, 
   fingering shrapnel from the till, 
   collaring a chilled draught Guinness. 
   Love’s bitter mystery…
   The trace of down 
   on an arm can do it. T-bone, fillet, rump. 
   ‘Green leaf or mixed, dressing for the salad, sir ?’ 
   Grant me an old man’s frenzy.
   What else have I to spur me into song ? 
   Ah, there, across 
   the mill pond towards the new Pizzeria, 
   those punters with the pole playing silly buggers 
   right next to that swan.