songs of robert the cutler

always a cutting edge
in craft and language

in the rhymer's tongue
in a hymn unsung

in the anvil's stammer
antiphons from hammers

in the baron's pride
in the madam at his side

in the coxcomb's quip
in the usurer's grip

in the scalded heart's
serendipitous arts

in copious streams
through a maker's dreams

in the scythe's keen
through the greenest green

in the scullion's skewer
in a blade for a hewer

in the warrior's qualms
in the coward's show of arms

in the polished breast-plate's
uncertain fate

chapter and verse
of the beggar's curse

in a saint's surrender
to the banquet's splendour

in the bishop's snore
in the truth of a whore

in opposed wits
when the fool's cap fits

in appetites whetted
a fretting child petted

in a poor man's chunter

the roar of a ranter

in the whole hog spitted
and manumitted

in the second helping
in a kicked dog's yelping

in an empty stomach's
mew and whimper

gilded rebukes
from duchesses and dukes

in the Dun man's twang
hafting a tang

in the great door's slam
ad majorem gloriam.