An Effort

Sun, Feb 8, 2009

(After “Le Directeur”)

Damn unlucky Thames
Drains the Spectator.
Even the bow-tied editor
Of the Spectator
Leaks phlegm.
The reactionary actuaries
Of the hibernator Spectator
Strut hand-in-hand,
A footpad’s band.
Under land
Darling Lil—
No lace frill—
Hears the snot-nose
Of the hibernator Spectator’s
Head investigator
And puts on clothes.

I’ve yet to read a convincing explanation of the speaker in this poem, given Eliot’s political sensibilies, though I’m, as always, open to suggestions.