After These Wars

After battle, with wounds to lick and
Beaus and belles all reuniting
Rationing, austerity: it did us
Good after the fighting
Now, time to bid some fond farewells and
Walk away from empires crumbling
Post-war baby-boom to fuel with post-
Victorian half-dressed fumbling

I see a screen, grey cathode tube in
Walnut cabinet, pride of place
In holy family living room. Clipped-
Tone announcer, powdered face
And now to mould public opinion
Sanctify the good and great
Lordly over his dominion, brash
Television seals our fate

After these wars, when gentler winds were blowing
After these wars, when stocking tops were showing
When the Co-op gave us daily bread
And penicillin raised the dead
And combine harvesters kept
Us fed, after these wars

We thanked the Yank and thanked the
Lord for sparing us from dark invasion
Now to liberate, rebuild and balance
Europe's new equation
Spooky spies in from the cold with
Lies and secrets to be sold
To bigger brothers, bigger bombs
Le Carré thrillers to be told

We take our place amongst those others
Who would punch above their weight
Divest ourselves of glowing mantle
Mantle of old Britain Great
Bit part cast in Hollywood, ripe
Old thespian, tolerated
World-weary ham upon the stage
Evergreen but over-rated

After these wars, when gentler winds were blowing
After these wars, when stocking tops were showing
When the Co-op gave us daily bread
And penicillin raised the dead
And combine harvesters kept
Us fed, after these wars