In Westminster Abbey by John Betjeman (1906-1984)

John Betjeman was an English poet who was rare in that his poetry was often well received by both his audiences and literary critics. He is known for his light touch on serious issues, and was known to satirize society's superficiality, which we see here in In Westminster Abbey. He served as the United Kingdom's poet laureate from 1972 until his death in 1984.

In Westminster Abbey

Let me take this other glove off
As the vox humana swells,
And the beauteous fields of Eden
Bask beneath the Abbey bells.
Here, where England's statesmen lie,
Listen to a lady's cry.

Gracious Lord, oh bomb the Germans,
Spare their women for Thy Sake,
And if that is not too easy
We will pardon Thy Mistake.
But, gracious Lord, whate'er shall be,
Don't let anyone bomb me.

Keep our Empire undismembered
Guide our Forces by Thy Hand,
Gallant blacks from far Jamaica,
Honduras and Togoland;
Protect them Lord in all their fights,
And, even more, protect the whites.

Think of what our Nation stands for,
Books from Boots' and country lanes,
Free speech, free passes, class distinction,
Democracy and proper drains.
Lord, put beneath Thy special care
One-eighty-nine Cadogan Square.

Although dear Lord I am a sinner,
I have done no major crime;
Now I'll come to Evening Service
Whensoever I have the time.
So, Lord, reserve for me a crown,
And do not let my shares go down.

I will labour for Thy Kingdom,
Help our lads to win the war,
Send white feathers to the cowards
Join the Women's Army Corps,
Then wash the steps around Thy Throne
In the Eternal Safety Zone.

Now I feel a little better,
What a treat to hear Thy Word,
Where the bones of leading statesmen
Have so often been interr'd.
And now, dear Lord, I cannot wait
Because I have a luncheon date.

Betjeman's humorous satire shines through in In Westminster Abbey, where, given the context and situation, what would normally be a very grave and melancholy tone becomes lackadaisical and almost humorous.Written in 1940, the poem gives a backdrop of the beginning of World War II in which the German army is quickly advancing through France and approaching the banks of the English Channel. While the speaker, a rich English woman (she's wearing gloves and has a luncheon date), may seem to be doing the right thing in the context by praying to God for her own well-being and the well-being of others (somewhat), it quickly becomes apparent that she is really giving no thought to the prayer at all, and that her selfishness and ignorance are what should be noticed here. She prays that she, in particular, shall not feel the blast of the German bombs, and is openly racist in her request to protect the "gallant blacks... and, even more, protect the whites." The woman may seem serious in her requests to God, but the audience soon sees the ignorance she is living (rather happily) with. She does not realize the severity of the war and destruction going on around her, and since we know in the aftermath of World War II the real suffering and atrocities that went on the audience is made to oppose the speaker and her point of view. Considering the audience and its knowledge of the context and situation of England in WWII, the last line makes the whole poem seem insincere in that this prayer is abruptly halted due to a prior (and obviously insignificant in the big picture) luncheon date.