Pencils

Eight-and-six-a-dozen,

ninepence each,

saving a ha’penny

per H,HB, 2 and 4H.

Named for an Indian diamond,

and British Made by Hardtmuth*,

who most likely had bleistifte

in his pencil case in Der Schule.

Yes, British Made:

as I am;

as you are;

as all the pencils

of every colour and shade

in our island box are,

and are always 2B.

*The original Hardtmuth and his company were, and the latter is AFAIK, Czech. Quite how long the British subsidiary lasted, I have no idea.