A Dangerous Game Poem by Willem VanVoorthuysen

Unlike the skillful blending of fine wines
to please the more sophisticated tastes,
the game of mixing politics and religion
is played in fields of verbal land mines,
where gaffes or misquotes mean disaster
to those who yearn for dollar power,
or subtler benefits of leadership.

A lady I once debated asked me,
'Can't we be friends again? '
to which I kindly answered,
'Of course, dear lady, but...
remember that in music, and
attempts at verbal persuasion,
success depends upon the tone.'

C'est le ton qui fait la musique, non?