Benito like the oaf he was
invaded Greece and got defeated
at Himarra and numerous other
towns along the Albanian road
by evzones, kilted and carrying bagpipes
like the shepherds of Epirus,
their girlfriends steadfastly at their side
feeding them ammo and rolling their smokes.
So Adolf decided to demonstrate
to the dimwitted Duce how easy it was
to add a new country to his list.
But British intelligence intercepted his plan
and strange planes appeared in the Athenian sky:
Olivia Manning said the sight
was so fantastically futuristic
she thought the war was over and an
entire lifetime had elapsed.
The planes were British Spitfires.
And now a lifetime has really elapsed.
Olivia Manning died in her seventies
eighteen years ago and we
who were mere infants when Adolf
and Benito roared like bulls in springtime
are getting grey and meditative.
We used to rock around the clock
but now we walk around the block.
Today for instance I managed to mow
all two acres of Jane's lawn
then raked the cuttings and deposited them
in her monstrous compost heap.
In the morning there'll be heavy
mists and bleeding hearts, my hands
happily blistered and bandaged.
But when the mists lift we'll behold
the most beautiful lawn of the century.
