The minstrel in the gallery

Looked down upon the smiling faces.

He met the gazes observed the spaces

Between the old men's cackle.

He brewed a song of love and hatred,

Oblique suggestions and he waited.

He polarized the pumpkin-eaters,

Static-humming panel-beaters,

Freshly day-glow'd factory cheaters

(salaried and collar-scrubbing.)

He titillated men-of-action

Belly warming, hands still rubbing

On the parts they never mention.

He pacified the nappy-suffering, infant-bleating,

One-line jokers, TV documentary makers

(overfed and undertakers.)

Sunday paper backgammon players

Family-scarred and women-haters.

Then he called the band down to the stage

And he looked at all the friends he'd made.



The minstrel in the gallery

Looked down upon the smiling faces.

He met the gazes observed the spaces

In between the old men's cackle.

He brewed a song of love and hatred,

Oblique suggestions and he waited.

He polarized the pumpkin-eaters,

Static-humming panel-beaters,



The minstrel in the gallery

Looked down on the rabbit-run.

And threw away his looking-glass -

Saw his face in everyone.



He titillated men-of-action

Belly warming, hands still rubbing

On the parts they never mention.

(salaried and collar-scrubbing.)



He pacified the nappy-suffering, infant-bleating,

One-line jokers, TV documentary makers

(overfed and undertakers.)

Sunday paper backgammon players

Family-scarred and women-haters.

Then he called the band down to the stage

And he looked at all the friends he'd made.



The minstrel in the gallery

Looked down on the rabbit-run.

And threw away his looking-glass -

And saw his face in everyone.



The minstrel in the gallery

Looked down upon the smiling faces.

He met the gazes...

The minstrel in the gallery