My Desert Island Discs

The saddest thing about my Desert Island Discs, by far –






Strawberry Fields, of course (or, hang on, maybe Penny Lane),





in any case, the best three minutes of the best decade;





Meet on the Ledge, for Sandy’s voice, which seared





my soul the first time that I heard it played;





Next, Supper’s Ready – not far off half-an-hour long;





Don’t Take Me Alive – the perfect band’s most perfect song;





Too Sick to Pray, by Alabama 3, a pure delight;





Bon Jovi’s biggest banger – to bring back that night





we danced as if our hearts would flip their lid





(just, as it happens, weeks before mine did);





Weather With You, for how it brought the sun





out from behind black clouds at Glastonbury;





And last, Dear Lord and Father of Mankind, sung





by the chorister who once lived in this broken body















– is knowing, now, no one will ever ask me what they are.