Brand new, shiny leather satchels,
rugger kit, and swimming gear.
Pens and logarithmic tables,
Letts’ school diaries for the year.

Protractor, compasses, and ruler
in their ‘Oxford’ metal tin.
Inter-House Games every Wednesday
“Play Up – May the best man win!”

Newton’s three-part Laws of Motion,
Boyle’s on gasses, Hooke’s on springs.
Geography is ‘Glaciation’ –
terminal moraines and things.

‘Symphonia’ and Am Dramatics,
after-school Debating Club.
English Lit, and Pure Mathematics,
Jammie Dodger Tuck Shop grub.

‘Old School’ teachers – quite Jurassic.
Leather-elbowed Harris Tweed.
Oxbridge Masters of the Classics
parse in Latin and in Greek.

Early morning registration,
dinner money, School Trip fund.
Blazers, caps, and long grey trousers –
Another school year’s just begun.