Will you go bra-less
when I’m car-less,
and travel with me south,
upon my sofa
be my chauffeur,
driving with your mouth?
Once I’ve parked
and disembarked,
will you with gamesmanship
remain attired,
uninspired
to take bra off, and strip?
Inspired by Frieda Korobkin’s letter in today’s WSJ, published the same day as my poem “Sonnet Unleaded” or “Shall I Compare Thee” was published in the NYT:
Gamesmanship: Stopping Bores Cold
Regarding Jacob Epstein’s tribute to Stephen Potter (Masterpiece: “The Success of Failure––
Stephen Potter’s ‘Gamesmanship’ Grew Out of His Bad Luck, ” Leisure & Arts, July 19) : Years ago I read that book and laughed my head off. Potter’s advice regarding the bore, who goes on about his travel experiences to obscure places until one’s eyes glaze over, is priceless. He suggests saying “That’s very true, but only in the south.” That will stop him in his tracks. I have tried it. Believe me, it works.
I submitted the following poem to the WSJ:
When going forth,
first head for north,
there’s trouble for a rotter
who runs his mouth
while heading south,
trust me and Stephen Potter.
7/25/08
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem