Lawrence Hall
Dispatches for the Colonial Office
A Sidewalk Table at Pouline’s
V: Monsieur…
R: Oui?
V: Your life has no meaning
Please let it have no meaning somewhere else
R: But my coffee, my croissant…
V: Oui, you have paid
And have left the perfect tip. The afternoon
Is slow and there are certainly plenty of tables
Your appearance and demeanor are parfait but…”
R: Oui?
V: You have sat here ten minutes into the time
At which you commenced to appear desperate.
R: But how?
V: If you must ask then you are desperate
You have not been accepted into the mysteries
And never can be. You have been caught out
Please dispose of your Mont Blanc pen
Your embossed note cards, your important papers,
And your leather portfolio crafted in understated elegance,
And go deliver groceries or wash cars.
R: Does it really show?
V: It’s as if you
Were taking a selfie
At Shakespeare & Co
R: Then all is existential despair
V: Oui, former monsieur
