Wild Court

An international poetry journal based in the English Department of King’s College London

‘Meccano Magazine’ – a poem by Bernard O’Donoghue

 
 

    Meccano Magazine

 

Bridge May Riordan ordered it for me
From London. Being educational,
It was exempt from the 2d Purchase Tax,
Which was ironic because, in the reading
Of instructions, I was ineducable.
The sons of the Creamery Manager,
Who also had Set 5, completed models
So they always came out exactly like
The detailed illustration in the brochure:
The Bridge over the River Kwai; an Alpine
Funicular railway; a working crane,
And never had an unused piece left over,
Having put every item to its minute purpose.
I still find in drawers and boxes, under
The carpet or behind the skirting board
The occasional small screw, nut or clip
That should have contributed to some grander whole.

 


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