Myfanwy - A poem by John Betjeman

John Betjeman - Myfanwy

Kind o’er the kinderbank leans my Myfanwy,
White o’er the playpen the sheen of her dress,
Fresh from the bathroom and soft in the nursery
Soap scented fingers I long to caress.

Were you a prefect and head of your dormit'ry?
Were you a hockey girl, tennis or gym?
Who was your favourite? Who had a crush on you?
Which were the baths where they taught you to swim?

Smooth down the Avenue glitters the bicycle,
Black-stockinged legs under navy blue serge,
Home and Colonial, Star, International,
Balancing bicycle leant on the verge.

Trace me your wheel-tracks, you fortunate bicycle,
Out of the shopping and into the dark,
Back down the avenue, back to the pottingshed,
Back to the house on the fringe of the park.

Golden the light on the locks of Myfanwy,
Golden the light on the book on her knee,
Finger marked pages of Rackham's Hans Anderson,
Time for the children to come down to tea.

Oh! Fullers angel-cake, Robertson’s marmalade,
Liberty lampshade, come shine on us all,
My! what a spread for the friends of Myfanwy,
Some in the alcove and some in the hall.

Then what sardines in half-lighted passages!
Locking of fingers in long hide-and-seek.
You will protect me, my silken Myfanwy,
Ring leader, tom-boy, and chum to the weak.

Credit: Reprinted with the permission of John Murray (Publishers) Ltd

Added: on October 9th, 2008 at 5:18 AM | Viewed: 4053 times | Comments (8)

Myfanwy - Comments and Information
Poet: John Betjeman Poem: Myfanwy Comment 8 of 8, added on November 20th, 2009 at 7:25 AM. Myfanwy I wonder if I came to this poem prior to the David Essex version. Reading the poem now suggests I didn't. I wondered for year if a was a lesbian, schoolgirl crush thing, but reading the poem I see it is from the perspective of a husband, or is it? Now I read that Myfanwy was Betjeman's nanny. All plausible. The beautiful thing is that the poem is open to interpretation. Tony Griffin's observation about the "fortunate bicycle" is a a bit gross but is a sure observation. The Essex music fits the words and the mood perfectly. And the capture of privilege and a lost culture, as Tony points out, rings true. The First World War ended all that. Cheers Ian from Australia Comment 7 of 8, added on November 14th, 2009 at 4:23 AM. poem-Myfannwy Had not known poem before hearing it sung by David Essex.Just one of those life changing pieces of prose that you can never forget. I wore a navy gymslip to school. Would love to talk to anyone who fels the same. PAULINE MACAULEY from Australia Comment 6 of 8, added on October 9th, 2008 at 5:18 AM. I too came to this poem via the David Essex song, but now I love both. It always bring tears to my eyes, tears of nostalgia I suppose, particularly towards the end. The Liberty lampshade shining at teatime means it must be autumn or winter, which for me conjures a perfect picture of the cosy house, fireside, tea and cake... I had to look up Kinderbank but apparently it's a sort of bench seat, presumably for children? Michael Rush from United Kingdom More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, Myfanwy, has received 8 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by John Betjeman with others on the Poetry Connection poetry forum!

Poem Info
Myfanwy Last read: 2009-11-21 09:12:26 Viewed 4053 times. Added on October 9th, 2008 at 5:18 AM.

Betjeman Info
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