Another Valentine (Excerpt)
Today we are obliged to be romantic
And think of yet another valentine.
We know the rules and we are both pedantic:
Today's the day we have to be romantic. . . .
Present (Excerpt)
On the flyleaf
of my confirmation present:
'To Wendy with love
from Nanna. Psalm 98.'
I looked it up, eventually -
Cantate Domino
I knew the first two verses
and skimmed the rest. . . .
Giving Up Smoking (Excerpt)
There's not a Shakespeare sonnet
Or a Beethoven quartet
That's easier to like than you
Or harder to forget. . . .
Some More Light Verse (Excerpt)
You have to try. You see the shrink.
You learn a lot. You read. You think.
You struggle to improve your looks.
You meet some men. You write some books.
You eat good food. You give up junk.
You do not smoke. You don't get drunk.
You take up yoga, walk and swim.
And nothing works. The outlook's grim.
You don't know what to do. You cry.
You're running out of things to try. . .
The New Regime (Excerpt)
Yes, I agree. We'll pull ourselves together.
We eat too much. We're always getting pissed.
It's not a bad idea to find out whether
We like each other sober. Let's resist.
I've got the Perrier and the carrot-grater,
I'll look on a Scotch or a pudding as a crime.
We all have to be sensible sooner or later
But don't let's be sensible all the time. . .
After The Lunch (Excerpt)
On Waterloo Bridge, where we said our goodbyes,
The weather conditions bring tears to my eyes.
I wipe them away with a black woolly glove
And try not to notice I've fallen in love. . .
- Wendy Cope
