Poems of the Week

Undefeated

by Julia Griffin

“’My life is beautiful’: Felix Klieser, who plays the horn with his toes,
on making his Proms debut”
The Guardian

“To play the horn you must have hands!”
It seemed a final put down,
But Felix (how, none understands)
Just smiled and put his foot down.

With patient skill he flexed each toe
And tamed that brassy helix;
Now all the cognoscenti go
To pack the Proms for Felix.

He lives his life with sheer delight;
His fame is lightly worn,
Though Heaven knows he’s won the right
To tootle his own horn.