THE YOUNG MAN WHO IS BLIND

The young man who is blind is smiling

While one reads the news to him.

He listens to the voice’s voice,

Pretends an interest in the din.

And when one takes him for his walk,

The tramways kneel politely;

He smiles like canny Moses

Traversing the Red Sea.

The ice-cap melts, plutonium spills

And terrorists rap at my door.

He chats, he does not see

My blood washing the floor.

And all the peevish race sweats bread

Out of reluctant earth, but one

Comes feeding him, for which he smiles,

For he outwits the plan.