Going for a Song, by Bevis Hillier – extract

On the Bust of Helen by Canova

In this beloved marble view, Above the works and thought of man What nature could and would not, do, And beauty and Canova can! Beyond imagination’s power Beyond the Bard’s defeated art, With immortality her dower Behold the Helen of the heart! — George Gordon, Lord Byron (1788–1824)

Precious Stones

My Cherrystones! I prize them, No tongue can tell how much! Each lady caller eyes them, And madly longs to touch! At eve I lift them down, I look Upon them, and I cry; Recalling how my Prince ‘partook’ (Sweet word) of cherry pie! — Charles Stuart Calverly (1831–84)

A Glass Collection

Today I had a big surprise Uncle left me eight glass eyes. He never used the things himself — He kept them glaring on a shelf. And champing on the shelf beneath Were twenty-seven sets of teeth… The one he slipped in people’s drink Was flecked with palest, palest pink. He made me promise I would keep All eight — now would you like a peep? You would? All right, but do not feel Them very hard, for one is real. — Alistair Sampson (1929–2006)