ANTHEM FOR DOOMED LAGS

What mourning-bells for them that croaks as lags?
Poor prigs transported far across the Other Side.
Like urchin rats on Puer prenticed fags
Or kinchen morts for crowns and crusts that ride.
As needy-mizzlers sneak and sting for beans,
So kiddies in middens sack rooks in Seven Dials
And sooties of six up nine-inch flues charred lean
Serve nancy boys' academy - St Giles.

What irons amend, what scars salt heals
In slangs, stone jugs, huge hulks' black holes?
For darky's devils bound for dunnest hell
Will ne'er raise heaven with tripping heels.
Be they souls above buttons or souls in soak,
But for the grace of God go all us gloaks.


                                                                       Michael Small
June7-24, 2004

published poem, Melbourne Poets Union, no.318, February/March 2009
Ist prize in Sonnet Competition