The British Way Of Life - A Free-verse Poem: Dedicated To Mary Smith of York, by Kofi Thompson

We are simply saying there's a British way of life

And we don't actually care where you were born

Be it Bangalore, Berkshire, Beira, Benenden, Bangladesh, Bethnal Green, Butere, Brentford, Bratislavia, Birmingham or Baiwleshie

And we don't particularly care either whether you are white, black, brown or mixed-race

And since this is an open society and a democracy in which one's free to come and go

If you don't like the British way of life, sodding get out of Great Britain

And go wherever in the world you think you'll fit in, be welcomed and feel at home

And leave those who enjoy it, to live the British way of life

In riot-free and lout-free Queen's-peace peacefulness

Which henceforth one hopes will be robustly protected for the law-abiding

So they can go about their lawful business, wherever in Great Britain they live - and whatever their skin-hue

Its called tolerance - but some call it the great British way of life!