D(ull) N(ilpotent) Road

In the corner sat Tumblebee/ Drinking a cup of lemon tea./ Next to him sat Matterhorn/ Blowing a French Horn./ Then there was Kajee/ Ever ready with his "Ha-jee.”/ And the always smiling Mack,/Entertaining everyone with a wisecrack./ Next sat Big Daddy trembling with dread,/ Wondering if the ceiling would fall on his head./ Then, with a muffler round his neck,/ Sat The Toff, a nervous wreck.

The meeting was called to order/ Without much ardor./ Up spoke a member, "Soon there will be elections./ Who’s going to make the selections?”/ Said another, "This requires a lot of thought./ Who can and cannot be bought!”/ Nobody wanted to get caught,/ So legal opinion was sought./ Said a voice, "To stand or not to stand — that’s the question.”/ A wit replied, "Have you taken your wife’s permission?”/ Coughing badly, croaked the chairman,/ "I don’t want to be an also-ran.”

Through the night the discussion went on,/ The perplexing question, "Kaun?”/ Names proposed, names opposed./ The dozing chairman snored!/ Coffee flowed like the Thames,/ But they couldn’t select any names./ Everyone was too afraid,/ No decision could be made./ Yonder breaks the dawn,/ Everyone stifles a yawn./ Says the chairman, "Home all of you fly,/ The meeting is adjourned sine die.”

JAL S. DESAI