Lawrence Hall
Dispatches for the Colonial Office
We Need to Talk
When
a woman says, “we need to talk”
A man’s
complexion pales; he begins to sweat
His
spine of stern chilled steel becomes chilled mush
As
he examines his conscience in anticipation of doom
Her
talk will not be of puppies or cups of tea
Or
how the flowers are bedded in for autumn
Of
the curious news from the Bering Strait
Nor
yet of ships or sealing wax or kings
Oh,
no – “we need to talk” means that he will be silent
As she
posts to the docket his most recent crimes
Line 8 – cf. Lewis, Carroll, “The Walrus and the Carpenter”
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