Eating Poetry

A poem describing a meal with a well-known writer

‘Will you eat a little faster?’ said the reverend to me,

‘We’ve finished all the jewfish and there’s plenty more for tea,

By swallowing so slowly you will never feel replete.

Oh will you won’t you, will you, won’t you hurry up and eat?

There’s mackerel mince and battered brill and cockle-curried bream

And haddock mixed with halibut and humpback salmon cream,

There’s marinated mussel-meat that truly tastes a treat,

Oh will you, won’t you, will you, won’t you hurry up and eat?’

You’ve hardly touched a morsel and with little time to waste

Before we sit for supper I suggest you gather haste,

I’ve said it more than once, I know, and yet I must repeat,

Oh will you, won’t you, will you, won’t you hurry up and eat?’

Said I, ‘I thank you, reverend sir, but surely you’ll agree

So many fishy dishes are a lot to eat for tea.’

‘Not so,’ said he, ‘to eat a feast is not so great a feat,

So will you, won’t you, will you, won’t you hurry up and eat?’