• Contact
  • About
  • ISSN 3049-9720
  • Authors and editors
NEWSLETTER SIGN UP
Yorkshire Bylines
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
    • Brexit
    • Culture
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Home Affairs
    • Transport
    • World
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Society
    • Food
    • Music
    • Poetry
    • Sport
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Science and Technology
    • Trade
  • Region
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Brexit
    • Culture
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Home Affairs
    • Transport
    • World
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Society
    • Food
    • Music
    • Poetry
    • Sport
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Science and Technology
    • Trade
  • Region
No Result
View All Result
Yorkshire Bylines
Home Society

Speak softly, and carry a big stick 

Steve’s friend Tim is getting ready for war. Any war. He’s got the stick already….

Steve Pottinger by Steve Pottinger
04-02-2022 14:56 - Updated on 10-03-2022 14:16
in Society
Reading Time: 12 mins read
A A
Image by Stan

Image by Stan

Share on Bluesky

Continuing the conversation between Tim and Steve. If you enjoy this, it’s worth catching up on the first 21 installments via Steve’s author page. 

“What you doing, Tim?” 

“What’s it look like?” 

“Well…” 

“I’m digging a trench, Steve.” 

“OK…” 

“Because we need to be ready…” 

“For?” 

“For war, mate.” 

“Really?” 

“All the wars.” 

“All of them??” 

“Yes.” 

“Like…?” 

“There’s Voldemort, for starters…” 

“Sorry?” 

“He’s attacking the cranes…” 

“Er…” 

“And you know how I feel about wildlife…” 

“Yes…” 

“He’s got…” 

“But…” 

“To be stopped…” 

“Voldemort?” 

“That’s the fella.” 

“The fictional character…” 

“Out of Harry Potter, yes.” 

“Right…” 

“A nasty piece of work…” 

“So, Tim…” 

“But you don’t need me…” 

“How’s he starting…” 

“To tell you that.” 

“A war?” 

“Well, I’m a bit vague…” 

“Uh-huh…” 

“On the details…” 

“Surprise me…” 

“But it’s out east…” 

“Oh?” 

“Near the Black Baltics…” 

“Where?” 

“Surgical knows all about it…” 

“Surgical?” 

“Truss.” 

“I see.” 

“Mate of Spaffa’s…” 

“Now it makes sense….” 

“She says Voldemort…” 

“Vladimir…” 

“Is planning to attack…” 

“Putin…” 

“The cranes…” 

“Ukraine…” 

“And they’re endangered already, Steve.” 

“It ain’t going to happen, Tim.” 

“Spaffa’s out there himself…” 

“Two unpopular leaders…” 

“Laying the law down…” 

“Distracting from domestic failings…” 

“Operation Big Dog…” 

“By posturing…” 

“In full effect…”  

“On the international stage…” 

“Saving the cranes…” 

“To save their skins.” 

“You’re very cynical, Steve…” 

“It’s the Falklands all over…” 

“I agree, mate.” 

“You do?” 

“That’s why…” 

“Blimey.” 

“I’m digging this trench…” 

“Er…” 

“Before the Argies arrive.” 

“Oh boy.” 

“Speak softly, Steve…” 

“Right…” 

“And carry a big stick.” 

“And that is a big stick, Tim…” 

“It is.” 

“But not much use…” 

“I’m not allowed proper weapons…” 

“Against Voldemort…” 

“Since Cassandra took out…” 

“Or the Argentinians…” 

“The injunction.” 

“Is it?” 

“But…” 

“Yes?” 

“There’s the other wars.” 

“What other wars?” 

“The war against…” 

“Go on…” 

“The woke folk…” 

“Good grief…” 

“Foreigners in boats…” 

“You’re kidding…” 

“The chatterati…” 

“Who are…?”  

“And all the other pastas…” 

“Hmmmm…” 

“We need to defend Spaffa…” 

“We really don’t, mate…” 

“By whatever means necessary…” 

“Oh, Tim…” 

“He’s doing his best…” 

“For himself, yes…” 

“And if we don’t stand up…” 

“Are you, Tim…?” 

“For what’s right…” 

“Because you’re in a trench…” 

“It’s going to be…” 

“And you only come up to my knees.” 

“Just like…” 

“Like what, mate?” 

“The Weimaraner Republic.” 

“You mean Weimar…” 

“No, Steve…” 

“Late 1920s Germany…” 

“I mean Weimaraner…” 

“You don’t…” 

“Because this country’s going…” 

“Please don’t say…” 

“To the dogs…” 

“To the dogs…” 

“Spaffa even had to deploy…”  

“More barefaced lies…?” 

“Mad Morris last night…” 

“Ah. Less barefaced…” 

“And even she couldn’t sort it…” 

“More shitfaced…” 

“We need…”  

“What?” 

“War.” 

“What is it good for?” 

“Huh?” 

“Absolutely nothing…” 

“Say it again…?” 

“Ain’t nothing but a heartbreaker…” 

“Hold on…” 

“Friend only to the undertaker…” 

“Are you quoting…” 

“It’s an enemy…” 

“Edwin Starr…” 

“To all mankind…” 

“At me?” 

“Ten out of ten, mate.” 

“It’s a great tune, Steve.” 

“It’s a great tune, Tim.” 

“Thinking about it…” 

“Go on…” 

“It’s thirsty work…” 

“Yes?” 

“Digging this trench…” 

“You mean…” 

“It might be time…” 

“For a pint, Tim…?” 

“Absolutely.” 

“Good idea, fella…” 

“Fighting for freedom…” 

“Lord knows…” 

“Is all very well…” 

“There’s got to be a better way…” 

“Was that…?” 

“Yes, Tim?” 

“Edwin again?”  

“It was…” 

“He had some words, didn’t he?” 

“He did, mate…” 

“Shall we…?” 

“Lets get you…” 

“Come on, then…”  

“Out of this trench…” 

“And go for that pint…” 

“Oh yes.” 

“Happy days, Steve.” 

“Happy days, indeed.” 

Tags: Boris JohnsonUkraine

Sign up for the Yorkshire Bylines newsletter

* indicates required

Consent for having Bylines Network store my submitted information

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. For information about our privacy practices, please visit our website.

We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices.

Steve Pottinger

Steve Pottinger

Steve is a poet, author, and a founding member of Wolverhampton arts collective Poets, Prattlers, and Pandemonialists. His work has appeared in magazines and anthologies, and he’s a regular contributor to online poetry platforms. You can discover more of his work via his website, on X @BigStevePoet, or follow him on Bluesky

Related Posts

Cricket player batsman hitting a ball with a bat shot from below with cricket stadium ground background
Opinion

How has Hawk-Eye changed the game of cricket?

by Dr John Elsom
10 September 2026
Two wooden Adirondack chairs painted with the Canadian flag sit side by side at the end of a dock, facing out over a calm Muskoka lake in Ontario's cottage country. The red maple leaf stands out crisply against the white painted slats, while long shadows stretch across the warm wood planks. Still, mirror-like water reflects the forested shoreline that frames the lake under a soft blue summer sky. Shot from behind in a rear view, the two empty chairs invite the viewer to sit, relax, and take in the peaceful waterfront scene. With no people in the frame, the image captures the quiet beauty of Canadian cottage life, evoking tranquility, escape, and slow summer days at the lake. This patriotic Canada Day image suits travel and tourism, cottage and real estate marketing, lifestyle content, and summer long weekend campaigns. The flag-painted chairs make it especially well suited to Canada Day, July 1st, and national pride themes, as well as broader ideas of relaxation, leisure, and the idyllic Canadian lakeside lifestyle.
Culture

What Yorkshire looks like after the family tree crosses the Atlantic

by Joshua W J Brown
6 September 2026
A cabin nestled amidst snow-covered fir trees on a mountain clearing in the winter. Aurora borealis. Northern lights in winter forest. Christmas holiday and winter vacations concept
Culture

From cultural revival to devolution: can Yorkshire follow Finland’s lead?

by Colin Speakman
5 September 2026
freshly picked beetroot
Food

Beetroot finds its groove

by Meryl White
3 September 2026
British Businessman Holding Large And Small Piggy Bank
Society

Technical is not the same as tangible

by Paul Rowlston
31 August 2026
Next Post
Where ignorance is bliss

The pro-Brexit media – where ignorance is bliss

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR CROWDFUNDER

BROWSE BY TAGS

Art Books Boris Johnson Bradford Charity Climate Change Cost of Living Covid-19 Creative Industries Crime Democracy Devolution Donald Trump Environment Equality Experience Farming Festival Gaza Conflict General Election History Human Rights Immigration Iran Journalism Keir Starmer Labour Leeds Media Mental Health NHS Northern Ireland Protocol Pollution Poverty Recipe Refugees and Asylum Seekers Restaurants Retained EU Law Review Rishi Sunak Sheffield Theatre Travel Ukraine USA
Yorkshire Bylines

We are a not-for-profit citizen journalism publication. Our aim is to publish well-written, fact-based articles and opinion pieces on subjects that are of interest to people in Yorkshire and beyond.

Yorkshire Bylines is a trading brand of Bylines Networks Limited which is separate to, but allied with, Byline Times.

Learn more about us

No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • Authors and editors
  • Complaints
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • Letters
  • Privacy
  • Network Map
  • Network RSS Feeds
  • Submission Guidelines
  • Download the Bylines Network App

© 2020-2026 Yorkshire Bylines. Powerful Citizen Journalism. ISSN 3049-9720

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Brexit
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Home Affairs
    • Transport
    • World
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Society
    • Culture
    • Dance
    • Food
    • Music
    • Poetry
    • Recipes
    • Sport
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Science and Technology
    • Trade
  • Region
  • The Davis Downside Dossier
  • The Digby Jones Index
  • Cartoons by Stan
  • Authors and editors

Newsletter sign up

CROWDFUNDER

© 2020-2026 Yorkshire Bylines. Powerful Citizen Journalism. ISSN 3049-9720