Interrogation at the Womb Door
(with a nod to Ted Hughes)
Who goes there? Body and Soul.
Anything else to declare?
Before you pass through the eye of the needle,
You can leave them in our tender care.
We’re sending that equipment to the Centre of Research
To see just how your lifelines scan.
If the parish priest can’t use your soul,
We know a lot of guys who can.
There’s a man with a scalpel and he’s hungry for love:
He’s heard your heart is full;
And your brains are on the menu in the restaurant above,
Where they serve them up with fine electric wool.
Hurry along now; there’s plenty of room;
We’re taking you all for a ride.
We’ll sign your birth certificate then show you to your tomb
When we get you on the other side.
Who goes there? Body and Soul.
Anything else to declare?
Well, we want you travelling light through our legislated midnight
And it looks just like you’re hiding something there.
Anthony Watts has been writing ‘seriously’ for over 40 years. He has won prizes and had poems published in magazines and anthologies. His latest collection is Stiles . Anthony’s main interests are poetry, music and walking.