George Szirtes
The Absent Drinkers
1
How systematic this dérangement
of Monsieur Poussin's!
One cannot imagine his crew becoming
a public nuisance.
2
At Veronese's Feast at Cana
they welcome Bacchus
with chamber music, diplomats,
soft cheese and crackers.
3
Quite conscious of the dignity
of rustic toil,
Velasquez's noble Topers are
true sons of the soil.
4
But truer to life the yokels of
the Fleming Brouwer,
whinging and farting, generally uncouth
like a drunken Noah.
5
The Dutchman Van Ostade rolls up
with all his pals:
Steen the publican, red-nose Rembrandt
and boozy Hals
6
Only in Hogarth are we given
the full horror:
Gin Ailey makes all Sodom blanch
and shocks Gomorrah.
7
No wonder the Victorians
raised their eyes to Heaven,
and Booze combined with Booth to form
The Temperance Seven.
8
In Zola's Paris Degas sees
a pair of lushes.
What's Pernod to the general
inspires his brushes.
9
Ah, Gay Paree! droll, sinister
and full of laughter.
We think of the 20th century as
the morning after.
10
England supporters, lonely wives
who'll not be missed ...
My God, it's squalid! Let's go out and
get truly pissed.
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