Listen to interviews with Roger McGough from The Telegraph, The Times & The Spectator here:

Roger McGough’s The Collected Poems

Pre order Here

“This triumphant anthology stuns with its sheer variety…if you’ve only room for one book when you go on holiday this Summer, take this.”

Contact

Readings & performances and children’s publishing

Philippa Perry

07774 264 826

showmetherabbit.com

1 Westfield House, 80 Westgate, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 3HP

Literary agent/permission requests

Charles Walker, United Agents

020 3214 0874

cwalker@unitedagents.co.uk

Photo Credit: Giacomo Gianenelli

A new series of Poetry Please out now on BBC Radio 4. Listen to all the episodes here.


'
His poetry is like a supermodel who can complete a Sudoku puzzle moments before swishing down the catwalk --- easy on the eye and smart as a whip.' Lorne Jackson, Birmingham Daily Post

PAY-BACK TIME

O Lord, let me be a burden on my children
For long they've been a burden upon me. May they fetch and carry, clean and scrub
And do so cheerfully.

Let them take it in turns at putting me up
Nice sunny rooms at the top of the stairs
With a walk-in bath and lift installed
At great expense.....Theirs.

Insurance against the body-blows of time
Isn't that what having children's all about?
To bring them up knowing that they owe you
And can't contract out?

What is money for but to spend on their schooling?
Designer clothes, mindless hobbies, usual stuff.
Then as soon as they're earning, off they go
Well, enough's enough.

It's been a blessing watching them develop
The parental pride we felt as each one grew.
But Lord, let me be a burden on my children
And on my children's children too.

© Roger McGough Selected Poems Penguin

Readings & performances and children’s publishing

Philippa Perry

07774 264 826

showmetherabbit.com Westfield House, 80 Westgate, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 3HP

Literary agent/permission requests

Charles Walker, United Agents

020 3214 0874

cwalker@unitedagents.co.uk