Uploaded November 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
DYLAN
By P B Taylor
I
He lost that last battle of the booze
In his slowly downhill flight
All of us fought against it
Boy it didn’t hold the answer
II
The mixtures were rather pathetic
Then he looked at the old pictures
None held the clue he left the room
Destitute again for that short cup of tea
III
We don’t always end this way
Crying cups for our past glory
Some try and its always so hopeless
As his Samaritans lost him in vain
Swansea Summer 1978
Phillip Taylor MBE was born in Amersham and educated at London University and the Inns of Court School of Law. His working life was spent, firstly at the BBC in London, in the Ministry of Defence and the Army, and then as a barrister at law and mediator at Lincoln’s Inn after he was called to the Bar.
He was Chairman of the Society of Civil Service Authors Poetry Workshop from 1982 to 1986 and contributed to their annual anthology FOCUS. His poems and short stories have appeared in journals, magazines and newsletters and some have been broadcast by the BBC. He has produced several poetry collections since 1972.
The Poetry Workshop was founded by Bill Barnes in 1970. It was a part of the Society of Civil Service Authors (founded in 1935) which now known as the Society of Civil and Public Service Writers.
DYLAN
By P B Taylor
I
He lost that last battle of the booze
In his slowly downhill flight
All of us fought against it
Boy it didn’t hold the answer
II
The mixtures were rather pathetic
Then he looked at the old pictures
None held the clue he left the room
Destitute again for that short cup of tea
III
We don’t always end this way
Crying cups for our past glory
Some try and its always so hopeless
As his Samaritans lost him in vain
Swansea Summer 1978
Phillip Taylor MBE was born in Amersham and educated at London University and the Inns of Court School of Law. His working life was spent, firstly at the BBC in London, in the Ministry of Defence and the Army, and then as a barrister at law and mediator at Lincoln’s Inn after he was called to the Bar.
He was Chairman of the Society of Civil Service Authors Poetry Workshop from 1982 to 1986 and contributed to their annual anthology FOCUS. His poems and short stories have appeared in journals, magazines and newsletters and some have been broadcast by the BBC. He has produced several poetry collections since 1972.
The Poetry Workshop was founded by Bill Barnes in 1970. It was a part of the Society of Civil Service Authors (founded in 1935) which now known as the Society of Civil and Public Service Writers.
