Timothy Winters comes to school
With eyes as wide as a football pool,
Ears like bombs and teeth like splinters:
A blitz of a boy is Timothy Winters.
His belly is white, his neck is dark,
And his hair is an exclamation mark.
His clothes are enough to scare a crow
And through his britches the blue winds blow.
When teacher talks he won't hear a word
And he shoots down dead the arithmetic-bird,
He licks the patterns off his plate
And he's not even heard of the Welfare State.
Timothy Winters has bloody feet
And he lives in a house on Suez Street,
He sleeps in a sack on the kitchen floor
And they say there aren't boys like him any more.
Old man Winters likes his beer
And his missus ran off with a bombardier.
Grandma sits in the grate with a gin
And Timothy's dosed with an aspirin.
The Welfare Worker lies awake
But the law's as tricky as a ten-foot snake,
So Timothy Winters drinks his cup
And slowly goes on growing up.
At Morning Prayers the Master helves
For children less fortunate than ourselves,
And the loudest response in the room is when
Timothy Winters roars "Amen!"
So come one angel, come on ten:
Timothy Winters says "Amen
Amen amen amen amen."
Timothy Winters, Lord.
Amen!
Leave a guest comment (subject to review)
Comments
1 - 5 of 5
-
Outstanding
This is a poem that looks at everyday life and real people. It is a wonderful poem with a sense of society and modern day parenting. He creates a great picture of this child's life. -
Memories
From guest Grant Davis (contact)
I too had to discuss this piece as a school child. I remember clearly the teacher asking what wa meant by "a blitz of a boy." I was the only one who attempted to answer that and the teacher vaguely disagreed with my explanation but herself refused to provide one which frustrated me. I am not sure to this day if that was due to her ignorance or her trying to show that interpretation is in the eye of the reader. This was back in 1973 by the way. Wonderful poem. And the final word (I'm sure) is missing - isn't there a final "amen" right at the end? -
-
To Guest Grant Davies,
This has long been one of my favourite pieces of poetry. The truths it contains are so real, even in today's Britain where so many Timothy's still exist.
You don't say what your interpretation of Blitz of a boy is but mine is of a child knocked about by society in the way London was knocked about by the Blitz. Timothy suffers not only from the physical cruelty of his father but the neglectful cruelty of his grandmother and others who are supposed to care for him. His appearance is tattered as the bombed houses were tattered and yet, through it all, the lad's spirits are not diminished and he still has time to think about and care for others as is evident in the penultimate stanza.
The final word in the poem is, as you say, Amen! and I have corrected that.
-
-
English
From guest Jasmine (contact)
I just wrote and essay on the poem "Timothy Winters" in English. I would like too know if timothy Winters was a realy boy? -
Timothy Winters
From guest Peter Teesdale (contact)
This was the first poem I ever read and in my view one of the most thought provoking social statements of the twentieth century. -
-
To Guest Peter T.
I couldn't agree more and unfortunately Timothy Winters and kids like him still exist in the civilised world of the 21st Century too
-
-
It made me cry...
From guest Amelia (contact)
i love this poem, it reminds me of a boy at my old school. poor guy, he was always bullied to tears but i was too scared to do anything about it. instead i prayed for im to god, as in the last stanza of this poem. i wish that people would do more about the poverty in so many countries around the world. i know there are many great people who already do so, but whilst the government plays a war game, a child dies from famine every three seconds. -
-
My Parental claim to fame lol the old man used to deliver his papers, the old bugger's still around. never spoke to him though. Geez what would I say!
Must admit to liking his work.
Adding your comment:
1 - 5 of 5
