THEY HAVE IT ALL

The results of the second workshop  for the reading at the University of St. Mark and St. John. 
The second photograph is entitled Benjamin Moody, St. Johns, 1912-13. 
The man in the middle of the seated row is holding a hand written sign that says Smiler's Brigade.
The first thing that struck me about this was the date and how close to the start of the First World War it was. 

BENJAMIN MOODY, ST. JOHNS 1912-13

They are fourteen months from the edge,

the abrupt end to that particular day,

of course none of them have an inkling

of how their world will crumble into mud.

All that is to come.

At this moment,

a Saturday in June, 1913,

they have it all.

This pride of privileged white men,

top of the heap,

the In-Crowd.

Smiler's Brigade of what?

You don't need to know to appreciate

just what an exclusive bunch they are.

Cock of the walk of St. Johns.

The bird will crow three times,

how many of them will be left in 1918?

At the workshop we were all intrigued by seated man fourth from the right, the one who appears to have a dog collar and square sun glasses on. 
I wrote this light hearted verse about him:

that argument

you know the one

if Mr. Wells' time machine was real

why haven't we met men from the future

is a load of crap

history is snigh with time travelling thrill seekers

we just chose not to reveal ourselves

this century I'm playing a vicar

Smiler's right hand man

and today

fifty or so years too early

it's the electric cool aid acid test

Snigh is an old English word which, when I looked it up, means to pour. I know it as a dialect word in the north west of England from when I was growing up. For me snigh means crowded, tight packed.
If you want to know about the electric cool aid acid test, you can follow this link.
Here are the Mountain Goats with Amy/Spent Gladiator pt1.

And here's some more: