The Extinguishing of Empire

THE EXTINGUISHING OF EMPIRE!

So it was with the Romans and so, of course, it will be

With other Empires that will rise and fall.

America and China will go down the self-same path;

Because it seems to happen to them all.

*

My mother was a teenage girl at school in 1910

And she recalled an episode with pride

When her teacher held a map of the world, standing before the class,
And pointed to all the red bits there and cried

'See the red! How far it spreads! All that belongs to us!

We're British and the British are the best!'

It was then my mother's patriotism simply knew no bounds.

It was pinned there, like a rosette, on her chest!

She stayed a patriot like that until the day she died

And that was at the age of ninety-seven;

Rule Britannia! Hope and Glory! And 'God Save the Queen!'

She was quite convinced that she'd been born in Heaven!

But I come from a generation born during the Depression

The generation that saw the slow decline

Of the little island floating in the chilly North Atlantic,

The birthplace she considered so divine.

'How are the mighty fallen!' Isn't that a well-known phrase?

And does it really matter after all?

For good or evil Empires rise only to reach their peak

And then, as though it's natural, they fall.

*

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THE MOWO!

Is it nearly two years ago that Max was only two?

And approximating words was all the speaking he could do?

His passion for lawn-mowers was much in evidence then,

And he'd mow his daddy's back lawn again and again and again!

Back and forth and back and forth he'd trudge for quite a while

Ending the whole procedure with a wide and beaming smile!

Not only that but a 'thumbs-up' that made everybody laugh

And rush to get their cameras to take a photograph!

Is it nearly two years ago? The time has gone so fast!

And the memories of Max at two are already in the past!

*

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P.S.

Yesterday morning we had to catch a train into the country, as our financial adviser lives at Maitland. It only took us half an hour to get there, though. Here is a shot of Malcolm sitting in the lovey cosy waiting-room. I chopped most of him off, though!

Then, at night (after having entertained the little boys after school!) we went to the Book Group meeting at Joy and Dave's. We actually saw a film tonight. It was called 'The Good German' and I didn't care for it much. However, the socialising afterwards made up for that. I managed to get the whole group to pose for me!