Opinion

Halfway to work and Merriman already has told me

What he thinks about the balanced budget, the Mets'

Lack of spring starting pitching, the dangers of displaced

Soviet nuclear engineers, soy products, and diesel cars.

I look out the window and hope I'll see a swan.

I hear they're bad-tempered but I love their necks

And how they glide along so sovereignly.

I never take the time to drive to a pond

And spend an hour watching swans. What

Would happen if I heeded the admonitions of beauty?

When I look over at Merriman, he's telling Driscoll

That the President doesn't know what he's doing

With China. "China," I say out loud but softly.

I go back to the window. It's started snowing.

by Baron Wormser