Summer of ‘63
The world was buzzing
Tales of scandal
And adultery
Secret spies
Mansion house
And parties
Swimming in the nude
Everything
Upper classes
Pants around their ankles
Sought a scapegoat
Stephen Ward would do
Accused of impropriety
It rankles
Mandy Rice
Christine Keeler too
Strong defending
Strong denial tactic
Even House of Commons told a lie
Keep the lid on
Turn the fire on others
Whatever happens
Just deny, deny
Solemnity of court
Bewigged counsel
Interrogation about a world of vice
Astor denies any relation
Well he would, wouldn’t he?
Said brilliant Mandy Rice
We know the score
When people take to lying
No matter how solemnly they swear
No judge no counsel
Can persuade us different
With Mandy and Christine standing there
It didn’t take
A long abstrusive argument
It didn’t take the threat of sending down
That little bit of humour
In the courtroom
Enough to puncture pomposity
And the Crown
Brian Fahy
19 May 2021
Erris Poetry 