Simon

My wife and I are
Around 60 staying
At a small place Saint
Margrets Hotel close by
The British Museum while
I am first to breakfast sitting
At the best table sipping tea with
Milk waiting for her to appear when an
Academic gentleman enters the
Room giving me a sour look as
I have gotten to the best table
First but I wave him over and
Offer to share the table so
He is mollified and sits as
We both sip tea waiting
For our wives to arrive.
His wife appears sits
Briefly then hurries
On with her day as
She strokes his
Ego by a sly
Reference
To how
He
Had
Made her
Day begin well.
We exchange first
Names as we talk and
I tell him I teach history at
Austin Community College
A small community college in
Austin and he becomes alarmed
When he realizes I am the husband
Of Lindy who is the secretary for
The Planning Department at the
UT School of Architecture as
He works there and I realize
I have met him there all of
Which occurs to each of
Us in a silent flash split
Second after which he
Confirms my view he
Must be a big-wig
Academic type
By his query,
How did you
Know I was
Staying
Here?
Just then
Lindy walks
In and says hi
Simon & so we chat
Then part our separate
Ways and I get to tell Lindy
All about what has transpired
Which makes her smile and laugh
Knowing that with the powerful
Rich and academics it is best
To lay it on with a trowel as
Simon later asks her how
We knew where he was
Staying not able to
Believe we found
The gem hotel
All on our own
As we are
Only the
Staff or
Worse,
ACC.
I am
Reminded
Of my German
Left friends who
Would tell Simon,
“An die wand faschistasa
Drecksau!” or "Up against
The wall fascist pig-filth!”
So much earthier than
Cheerio, tickity-boo,
And only a quarter
Century later I get
To remember it
All in a poem
On FB for
Your
Amusement,
I think that
Was his
Wife.