EXCEPTING POMEGRANATES

One should never overstay
One’s welcome at a dinner party
Eat all the pomegranates
Discuss politics or matters appertaining
Attempt to kiss the hostess
Or (worse) her pretty daughter. Fail
To compliment the paintings
In the dining room
Ask if the pudding served
Came frozen or from a packet

Light a cigarette between courses

Tread on the family dog, a yappy
Yorkshire terrier with foul breath
And high expectancy. Roll a joint

And wonder dreamily
If anyone smoked opium

I’ll done all these thing
Excepting pomegranates

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Steven Taylor
Photo David Bailey

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