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”
