Learning From Boccaccio Poem by Roger Hudson

"This passage contains magical terms
that proved untranslatable, "
read the editorial note.
Working his way through the thick translation
Of Boccaccio's Decameron
In the town's reference library
In the school lunch-hour
He decided he didn't believe that
- not when the story was titled "Putting the Devil Back in Hell"

So ploddingly
Word by word
With the help of an Italian/English dictionary
He penetrated the prudery
Of the respectable publishers
And with raincoat draped strategically in front
To conceal the bulge of triumph
He returned to afternoon school
His lesson in sex complete