Uploaded November 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
TELL ME WHY
By P B Taylor
I
I sit and stare as the best of them
Whilst they remain totally unamused
A reason which can never be when
And between the tantalized and the confused
II
Casting such a spell of hate
We spy the partial advantage
Not yet part of the debate
Which continues to defile any age
III
Deliberately, I have only to look away
To infinitely form no real part
Silencing an early mouthing say
Before its very brilliant start
Pathetic is the only word
Debilitating is clearly the final verb
London. Autumn 1977
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.
TELL ME WHY
By P B Taylor
I
I sit and stare as the best of them
Whilst they remain totally unamused
A reason which can never be when
And between the tantalized and the confused
II
Casting such a spell of hate
We spy the partial advantage
Not yet part of the debate
Which continues to defile any age
III
Deliberately, I have only to look away
To infinitely form no real part
Silencing an early mouthing say
Before its very brilliant start
Pathetic is the only word
Debilitating is clearly the final verb
London. Autumn 1977
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.
