Poetry

Lovelorna

John Whitworth

 

Lorna Liffen’s poem “Butch Boy” is indeed about a butcher’s boy

 

I’m lovelorn for Lorna Liffen

But she’s not in love with me

For she only has eyes for the butcher’s boy,

For the spiky hair of the butcher’s boy.

She’s taken a shine to the butcher’s boy

And that’s how it has to be.

                                                                                                                                      Ah that spliff in the corner with Lorna

At a random rendez-vous!

But she only had eyes for the butcher’s boy,                                                                                                                                                                                            

For the earring of gold on the butcher’s boy,

She was head over heels for the butcher’s boy.

And I don’t know what to do.

 

For if in the sauna with Lorna

I should sigh Love’s louche lexeme,

She would still just have eyes for the butcher’s boy,

For the fluff on the cheeks of the butcher’s boy,

Still shiver with joy for the butcher’s boy

In that elemental steam.

 

You’re so simply spiffin’, sweet Lorna Liffen,

I dream of you day and night,

But you only have eyes for the butcher’s boy,

For the punk tattoos on the butcher’s boy,

For the silver chains on the butcher’s boy,

For the black leather boots on the butcher’s boy,

You’re so madly in love with the butcher’s boy

That it simply isn’t right,

                                         Oh no

                                                    It simply isn’t right.