Salvatorian College - The Truth Is In Here!  | 
 |  Click here to return to our Main Index  | 
| 1961 School Extensions Magazine Index |

Mensalia
(Anon.)

Empty tums throbbing in the class unheard,
But there upon his beechy throne the master hasn't stirred;
Then risen from his seat awhile he just begins to stall
And writes another sentence on the blackboard on the wall;
The lasting echo of the bell has sounded round the school,
But the master now leaves down the chalk and then - resumes his stool;
In that enormous silence, many are afraid
They'll not reach the dining hall before the grace is said.
Hungry boys groaning as the clock ticks on
Eager to join with the lunch-going throng;
Waiting for the signal to put away the book,
Anxious to sample the products of the cook;
Now the master looks as if he has heard the crunch
Of hundreds of dentures already testing lunch;
Now we are free - hurrah!
Now they shall see - hurrah!
What thirty boys can do to beef and mash and pud.

They rush in green and black from the blue-clad upper floor
Like fountains down the staircase in a hungry flood they pour;
Surging through the cloakrooms, a vast and famished brood,
In desert legion fashion they fasten on the food;
The tables all are laden with the victuals for the feast,
In 'Octaves' they are settled, the greatest and the least;
Yet still there must be a duet
To wait and serve upon the set
Hungrily anticipating what they're going to get.

Now all are settled and are found in groups of eight
The meat, potatoes, veg and sauce are put upon the plate;
Water is apportioned and the green goblets filled,
Knives and forks are busy and conversation stilled;
Minds are busy reckoning out the second course
(Black prunes and custard will surely cause remorse);
They will not have Crepes Suzettes
Rum éclairs or omelettes
But steamed sponge pudding with a sweet lemon sauce.

The cook up in the galley sets her knife back in its sheath;
The metal sinks for washing up begin to boil and seethe;
The dining hall is empty as a ballroom in the dawn,
All the boys are scattered to the playground and the lawn;
Tums no longer throbbing with emptiness and pain,
Boys no longer hungry, but eager once again
To play and to yell - hurray!
What a fine lunch today,
Now it can thunder or snow or hail or rain.

(Apologies to Chesterton’s ‘Lepanto’)


| 1961 School Extensions Magazine Index |
 
This website is not endorsed by nor affiliated, allied or associated with any organization, society, group or association connected
with Salvatorian College, nor with Salvatorian College itself. It is not possible to contact the college via this website!