A Poem by Wally Keller

1ST NTRM RPORT ON TH CAUSS & MANIFESTATNS OF DVERGNT THINK
PROCEDUR CONCERNNG TH POLITICS OF SPRING

Th Peopls Rpublic of Poetry was nspird durng a short-livd lov
afair wth a dipoemat's butiful dawtr.

Delina, may your cheeks be trilliums and sanctioned by the
Provincial Government of Poetry.

[...]

If a poet were the premier of something, what might that something
be? Would it be a nation of obedient poetry lovers? Would the
national militia consist of mighty tulips armed with colour and
sunshine? Would the national anthem be a long joyful sigh after
love? Would the Union of Pollen Producers go on strike, demanding
higher rates of sunlight and more elaborate fringe benefits, such
as lighter showers and heavier dew? Would this cause an image-
national crisis? Would the Creative Intelligence Agency report
that the Insect Pollen Transportation Organization had been
infiltrated by dissident outside agitators, such as breezes? Then
what would our foreign policy be? Would we accept only immigrants
carrying passport dreams? Then what about the refugees from Grief
and defectors from Despair? Would we send out ambassadors to
collect the neglected? Would we establish dipoematic relations
with Pain, negotiate for a ceasefire, and settle for shorter
durations? Will we pick and choose our enemies (Banality,
Mediocrity) at the drop of a poem and come sharging, singing the
Battle Hymn of the Poetic?