Shambo RIP

It's official. A nation mourns.

Mr Eugenides strikes a mournful, plangent note:

“

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,

Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy T-bone,

Silence the tambourines and with muffled drums

Bring out the burger buns, let the ketchup come.

Let cattle trucks circle moaning round the barn

Scribbling in the dirt the message, Shambo Is Dead,

Put mournful garlands round the white necks of the temple monks,

Let the government veterinarians wear black rubber gloves...