Pinter

Harold Pinter
That’s the kind of writer I am into
I interviewed him once
For a slot called “With the FT, Lunch”
We drank Sancerre
And I was very happy to be there

At one point, he recited
A passage, verbatim, from James Joyce
And I was amazed, delighted
But his mood turned dark
When he talked about Iraq
This was just before
The huge march against the war

He’d recently been awarded the Nobel
Prize for literature, but was gravely unwell
he had cancer
Wouldn’t live much longer

I’m no wine buff, but I remember
We drank Sancerre
And I was happy to be there.

***

Note: I drew this picture last night. I don’t remember what picture was used in the paper that day

After the piece came out, Pinter left a funny and generous message on my answerphone.

I wish I still had it.

***

See also: Get Some Rhyme In Your Zoom