Boss You can see straightaway, yes, he’s a joke: The drawing breath to gather ponderous words To use as weapons. The hiding from the words Of others. The hiding, in fact, from others. The way he imagines a mirror as he talks, And listens only through his own reflection. His terror that the image in the mirror Might be shattered. That he might be forced To listen or to speak without his mirror. His grimacing at the thought is hilarious. The impersonation of the powerful man Impersonating the hollow man is Powerful. The trouble is he cannot see The joke. And this is deadly serious. Paddy Bushe
22