Martha

We are halfway across the ocean

Initially we were heading south

Bu then I injured my nose

It bled a great deal

I hope it is not broken

This said we are sailing towards New York

As I am going to meet a specialist in the city

Daddy’s first cousin

Who I have not seen

Since my father was lost

I trust you are well

And thank you for the photos

Of St George in the Fields

Thomas Rickman is one of my favourite architects

He ranks alongside Pugin

Daddy was actually connected to a Waterloo church in Bristol

The sad thing is when I visited Rickman’s tomb in Birmingham

I found it in a very poor state

Despite being designed by Hussey

The church was lost in the early sixties and the area looked tired

The detritus of that decaying city was everywhere

I spent some time with Thomas but all I saw

Was the human filth black and white

This was very distressing

The white trash totally fucked me off

But I did reason that English blood

Still passed through their veins

What what rights did the blacks have to be there

It was a malignant festering stew

I was standing where a beautiful church had once stood

Before foolish men destroyed it

What the fuck were they thinking

Just look at the photograph closely

It illustrates the decay much more than my words

Poor Thomas was born in rural Berkshire

But now sleeps in an unholy wasteland

The wind is getting up now Martha

So I will conclude

My next message will be from the city

I am due to meet Richard on the third

Will advise about my nose

(if you are interested)

The girls send their love



Joe x