Poetry: A Piece of Advice to the Leader of a Nation

A PIECE OF ADVICE TO THE LEADER OF A NATION ABOUT TO NEGOTIATE ALLEGEDLY THE LAST OBSTACLE TO GET WHAT IS REALLY WANTED

(a Parable)

Suppose a hill were to obstruct to Promised Land the way,

And miracles failed to drive the hill away.

You would be likely courses three to lay:

Over, round and—right, a U-turn—back home again.

The last, forget it—they wouldn’t need a leader then.

But what I meant to say is drop the other two

And tell the folks to tunnel through!

It is a far, far better way for you.

The grounds for that are mainly two.

For one, it’s best because it’s long:

The map is hard to read and might be wrong.

Again, if all turns out according to the Prophet,

Where will you find your little extra profit?

Alexander V Demidov

6 December 1988