Philosophy Lessons, or The Teacher's Tale

[busker]

"Mr Ntini", the Master began, while wiping the chalk from the board,
' You were, I think, to read and compare, our favorite Arrian
With Hegel and Kant- the whole Germanic horde."

All the ancient lawns and grasses prismed in the teacher's glasses;
For as the boy expounded all that he had learnt and stored,
Through them he saw another place, with other boys and classes.

There, the brightest and the best had said, the reason he was snorin'
Was because it was all fucking stupid
And that wanker Soren was borin'.

" Thus, I would contend" puffed Mr Thirteeny
Holding his lapel like his Dad
'That Epictetus and Nietsche, are somewhere in betweeny".


Everyone at High Table knew, as they passed around the port,
That Mr Ntini, and Mr Cholmondely-Ponsonby de Tomkyns
Would rule the world; because they  were among the right sort.

Yet a young half-blue, and a damned good oar
All new to School and its ways, asked was it fair?
"No", the High Master sighed, "and it's a bore; but

      They're poor, they're poor!"



NB  'Cholmondely' is pronounced 'Chumley'
.

I like the juxtaposition of Hegel and Kant with the Germanic horde, in contrast to Arrian, the heretic Eastern priest who purloined the glory of our lord for a moment.