A memo to Sir Patrick Mayhew
The Belgranoing of Faludya Bridge
was a very British Affair;
like the bully's lunge from behind a hedge
that sly assault from the air
was no mistake -
just the old race hate;
they call it 'the fortunes of war, old chap' -
call it 'the fortunes of war'!
They say that a hundred and forty
died of that one sortie.
The bridge was packed - commuter time,
and all of them died for the same crime:
that of bein'
called Hussa-in,
which is Arabic for Doherty, old chap -
sorta Arabic for Doherty.
Meanwhile at Victoria Station,
an IRA bomb kills ONE.
England stands stiff with indignation.
'An Outrage!' thunders the Sun.
But where was their rage
for Faludya Bridge
and what their bombers had done,
old chap?
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©Renate Mitchell. May not be reproduced in any form online or offline without explicit written permission.