Poem: A lament

The R101 was one of two British airships built in 1929 intended for civilian service. It crashed in France eighty years ago on 5th October 1930 during its maiden overseas voyage. Forty-eight of the fifty-four passengers were killed.

Lorna wrote this poem on the day that a memorial service was held for the victims at St Paul's cathedral. She was clearly angry at those who appeared to be treating the aftermath of the disaster as a spectacle, rather than an occasion to mourn. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R101#Memorials.