If this isn't a life we're leaving

Forget Europe. Let them be

with their cartoonish King Sarkozy,

with their Matryoshka doll, the Empress 

Merkel, small and smaller Merkels till emptiness. 

Let's make use of our diplomacy

and convince the Commonwealth of Nations

we can be a part of it too, with urgency.

If we play our cards right, we have to offer

the restoration of England's sense of Empire,

improved relationships with many regions:

Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau,

Mozambique, East Timor and Macao,

São Tomé and Príncipe and yet still 

other names they can't even pronounce,

not forgetting the largest of those, Brazil.

With them there'll be good deals on oil,

rich earths the Chinese now exploit,

so badly needed for high-technology. 

There'll be as well cheap labour, 

not to mention cheap labour. 

Don't forget the wine. Cheap. Lovely.

Remind Britain of the Anglo-Portuguese Treaty.

which has been fairly renewed since 1373.

The last time it was cited was in 1982,

during the Falklands, err Malvinas War.

It can be evoked once more by us too.

If language is held forth as a problem,

think of me and read my words to them:

'A linguistic issue? What are you aiming at?

I speak better English than your local twat.' 

Recite their poet Winston Churchill if needed be,

when the Azores became of importance militarily 

to set a base to fight the rising U-Boat threat: 

'I have an announcement', I said, 'to make to the House
arising out the treaty signed between this country and Portugal
in the year 1373 between His Majesty King Edward III and King Ferdinand
and Queen Eleanor of Portugal.' I spoke in a level voice, 
and made a pause to allow the House to take in the date,
1373. As this soaked in there was something like a gasp. 

I do not suppose any such continuity 

of relations between two Powers

has ever been, or will ever be,

set forth in the ordinary day-to-day
work of British diplomacy.

  

Quote even the love poem such treaty is:

"In the first place we settle and covenant 

that there shall be from this day forward... true, 

faithful, constant, mutual and perpetual friendships,

unions, alliances, and needs of sincere affection,

and that as true and faithful friends we shall

henceforth, reciprocally,

be friends to friends 

and enemies to enemies, 

and shall assist, maintain, and uphold

each other mutually,

by sea and by land, against all men 

that may live and die."

Help! Europe's evicting us by and by!

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Image: John of Gaunt being entertained by João I, King of Portugal, 14th century.