A butcher was the only survivor
when the White Ship,
decked out for a reality show
and with alcohol to spare, hit beefy rocks:
no sense of direction, so long ago
The king’s son – an Instagram hero –
went for glory
turning back to save his sister
but was swamped by adoring crowds,
who dragged him under
The captain too had a sinking feeling,
let go and drowned:
Plantagenets slipped on to the dance hall
dodging the cameras
and laughing
Pause for commercials, and
butchery flourished,
but the future had disappeared
together with the ship:
state of the art, they said