Old men who never cheated, never doubted, John Betjeman More Quotes by John Betjeman More Quotes From John Betjeman Childhood is measured out by sounds and smells and sights, before the dark hour of reason grows. John Betjeman sightdarkchildren Now if the harvest is over, And the world cold, Give me the bonus of laughter, As I lose hold. John Betjeman laughterhappinessgiving Norfolk would not be Norfolk without a church tower on the horizon or round a corner up a lane. We cannot spare a single Norfolk church. When a church has been pulled down the country seems empty or is like a necklace with a jewel missing. John Betjeman jewelsmissingcountry On out deathbeds we're not going to regret all the work we didn't do. We're going to regret all the sex we didn't have! John Betjeman deathbedregretsex Too many people in the modern world view poetry as a luxury, not a necessity like petrol. But to me it's the oil of life. John Betjeman luxuryoilviews It's strange that those we miss the most Are those we take for granted. John Betjeman grantedstrangemissing What the Londoner sees in his mind's eye is that cluster of towers and pinnacles seen from Pentonville Hill and outlined against a foggy sunset, and the great arc of Barlow's train shed gaping to devour incoming engines, and the sudden burst of exuberant Gothic of the hotel seen from gloomy Judd Street. John Betjeman sunseteyemind History must not be written with bias, and both sides must be given, even if there is only one side. John Betjeman givensideshistory People's backyards are much more interesting than their front gardens, and houses that back on to railways are public benefactors. John Betjeman gardenhomepeople And I think it was the outline of that church tower at Belaugh against the sky which gave me a passion for churches so that every church I've past since I've wanted to stop and look in. John Betjeman passionpastthinking I ought to warn you that my verse is of no interest to people who can think. John Betjeman interestpeoplethinking Topography is one of my chief themes in my poetry, about the country, the suburbs and the seaside. Then there comes love... and increasingly; the fear of death. John Betjeman topographyfear-of-deathcountry Hymns are the poetry of the people. John Betjeman hymnspeople And now, dear Lord, I cannot wait Because I have a luncheon date. John Betjeman dear-lordwaitingfood Gracious Lord, oh bomb the Germans. Spare their women for Thy Sake, And if that is not too easy, We will pardon Thy Mistake. But, gracious Lord, whate'er shall be, Don't let anyone bomb me. John Betjeman bombssakemistake I have a Vision of the Future, chum. The workers flats in fields of soya beans tower up like silver pencils, score on score. John Betjeman visions-of-the-futuretowersfields There are two thing you need for a jolly good hymn.The first is a set of words that expresses the mood or sentiment of the worshipper.The second-and perhaps even more important- is a good tune..with a simple popular melody. John Betjeman hymnssimpletwo And behind their frail partitions Business women lie and soak, Seeing through the draughty skylight Flying clouds and railway smoke. Rest you there, poor unbelov'd ones, Lap your loneliness in heat, All too soon the tiny breakfast, Trolley-bus and windy street! John Betjeman lonelinesscloudslying I don't think I am any good. If I thought I was any good, I wouldn't be. John Betjeman ifsthinking Imprisoned in a cage of sound, even the trivial seems profound John Betjeman cagessoundprofound
