The Swan Song of J. Q. Public

S’io credesse che mia risposta fosse
A persona che mai tornasse al mondo,
Questa fiamma staria senza piu scosse.
Ma perciocche giammai di questo fondo
Non torno vivo alcun, s’i’odo il vero,
Senza tema d’infamia ti rispondo.

Let us go then,
you and I
To that green room in the sky
Where Carson's guests with trembling hand
Await the sound of Severinsen's band.

On the House floor
the pages come and go
talking of Duke the Cunning Ho'...

Do I dare? and Do I dare?
Do I dare to say, "Impeach?"

No! I am not Prince Hamlet, nor was meant to be;
Am an attendant lord, one that will do
To swell a progress, start a scene or two,
Advise the prince; no doubt, an easy tool,
Deferential, glad to be of use,
Politic, cautious, and meticulous;
Full of high sentence, but a bit obtuse;
At times, indeed, almost ridiculous—
Almost, at times, the Fool.

My name is Bill Keller, and I approve this message.

Apologies to T. S. Eliot