A Poem

Ludbrooke: His Multiculturalism

Alan Brownjohn

Ludbrooke:
His Multiculturalism

Shows in the delicate way he rests his head
— Despite every fear that she will remove
it —
On the shoulder of Miss Chiang to watch
Duck Soup,
The video, from his reproduction sofa.
The alarm clock rings beside the bed of the man
Made President with the aid of American money
In the person of Margaret Dumont, and the
lovely Miss Chiang
Is completely puzzled by Mr Groucho Marx.
‘This gentleman — he is really President?’ she
asks.
Ludbrooke needs to lift his romantic head
To look at her, and answer. As he tries to
explain
That this is not quite like life, her mobile rings;
As it does three times on the way back to
Finchley Central.