Diplomat listening to the speech of another diplomat By Dominador I.

Ilio

They cannot go to the summer sea this year, Where on the boardwalk, in no more than shorts And bare feet, he can toss platitudes Without much mind to the next fellow, perhaps, Or to his nervous wife all ears beside him. And watch the silly antics of the children, Long unloved in the carefree stretch of sand, Or, perhaps, with anonymous paunch and goggles Foolishly try to execute a handstand In wrist-deep water, and make it, Though with much awkward kicking in air. It will be fun there in the summer sea. But with this, he cannot hint a word To the little woman. His hands are firmly chained To bulky paper-weights on his polished desk And his nights will be crammed with not merely silence. It shall need greater diplomacy, though, To tell the children why they cannot go Tan answer back this shrill-voiced speaker. O. These talks shall drag on many long seasons yet.