"You can go your Rowan way..."

Oh dear, what can the matter be?
What can this frenzy of media chatter be?
Williams resigns as Archbishop of Canterbury
Under the full public gaze.

He’s known as a liberal ecclesiastic
Unworldly enough to be seen as monastic;
Perhaps it’s a shame that divisions so drastic
Have prefaced the parting of ways.

Should he have borrowed the boldness of Becket
Opposing a policy, tried hard to wreck it?
It’s not as if he’d get a sword in the neck, it’s
Just not how we do things these days.

He staunchly supports ecumenicalism
Though less of a liberal when wielding the chrism;
His treatment of bishops may yet lead to schism
At least when they’re women or gays.

He tried very hard with his bishops “co-ordinate” -
Fuss from the feminist wing was inordinate -
Doubtless he felt the support of the Lord in at-
Tempting to have it both ways.

Amid all the media squabbling and warbling
You certainly cannot accuse him of dawdling
He’s bagging a billet as Master of Magdalene;
Long may the old sheep safely graze.