Critical and biographical information on Henry Reed, World War II British poet, critic, translator, and radio dramatist — author of "Naming of Parts"
Henry Reed, poet and radio dramatist
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Williams, John Lloyd. "Naming of Private Parts." Parody of Henry Reed. In The Faber Book of Parodies, edited by Simon Brett. London: Faber and Faber, 1984: 298.

HENRY REED
1914 -

NAMING OF PRIVATE PARTS

This perspex model is what you might call a perfect replica
Except of course for the perspex, of a typical shelter,
If such a thing as typical exists. The first thing to notice
Is the door, and this long thing is the radiation reflector,
Which in your case you have not got. This little room here
Is the same as the little room in every house and under it
Is the water re-cycling device, which again you have not got.
I see some of you are looking alarmed and a lady in the back
Has fainted but there is no need to panic because this is
Only a model and I assure you that in the real thing
That little room I showed you is not made of perspex.

JOHN LLOYD WILLIAMS


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