I’ve been reading a book (yes, I do that sometimes) called ‘Experiences’ by Martin Amis, kind of autobiographical. He says that Princess Di’s favourite poem contains these lines
Life is mostly froth and bubble,
two things stand as stone.
Kindness in another’s trouble,
courage in your own.
Which his father, Kingsley Amis, parodies as
Life is mainly grief and labour
two things get you through.
Chortling when it hits your neighbour,
whingeing when it’s you.
