CHAMELEON BOY

The Madness of Boy George, a documentary following the mercurial ex-front man of Culture Club through his period of community service for drug-related offences, airs on Channel 4 tonight. The Borkowski poet in residence marks the occasion with a poem…

Chameleon boy is happy and sad
a twisted, curmudgeonly acid-mouthed cad
or joyful and spirited, loving and kind
depending on how he has altered his mind.

Chameleon boy keeps karma in check
by living his life like a train set to wreck
whilst slagging of rivals with happy abandon.
If he’s falling he’s hoping it’s them that he’ll land on.

Chameleon boy makes hypocrisy art –
when he fires off his latest poisonous dart
calling Madonna an unspiritual clod,
he forgets he dismissed the idea of God.

Chameleon boy still has a great voice
but seems unable to simply rejoice
in the talents that long ago made him a star,
opting instead for misbehaviour bizarre

that leads to the streets and community service
but Chameleon Boy never seems nervous
He’s surly and combative rather than glum
and clearly revels in opprobrium.

He’s glam or he’s dowdy, there’s no in-between
but is it just drugs and drink that keeps him on our screens?
Chameleon boy clearly thinks that’s the case
as he can’t seem to stop slithering out of his face.