Homage to a Government

Written by Philip Larkin marking the sunset of the British Empire from 1945-69. No matter what nice stories we tell ourselves to justify uncomfortable or unwise actions, there are real world consequences. Homage was written in the late sixties or early seventies but seems prescient of our times nearly half a century on.

Homage to a Government
by Philip Larkin

Next year we are to bring all the soldiers home
For lack of money, and it is all right.
Places they guarded, or kept orderly,
Must guard themselves, and keep themselves orderly.
We want the money for ourselves at home
Instead of working. And this is all right.

It’s hard to say who wanted it to happen,
But now it’s been decided nobody minds.
The places are a long way off, not here,
Which is all right, and from what we hear
The soldiers there only made trouble happen.
Next year we shall be easier in our minds.

Next year we shall be living in a country
That brought its soldiers home for lack of money.
The statues will be standing in the same
Tree-muffled squares, and look nearly the same.
Our children will not know it’s a different country.
All we can hope to leave them now is money.