The Big Umpteen *

 

The big umpteen arrived on Mars in 1957

To frame a treaty of the stars

And plan the peace of Heaven.

But Molotov still obdurate

Extolled the Russian pattern

And said that we must liquidate

Financial rings round Saturn.

Then Bevin into anger burst

And swore that he’d resist ‘em.

Although the Reds reached Saturn first

He said “The solar system

On democratic lines must be,

No power could absorb it.”

Quoth Gandhi; “Satellites are free

To wander from their orbit.

The loveliest lights that space adorn

Are nourished, such the fact is,

Upon the milk of Capricorn

And not the Via Lactis.

 

London, 1947

 

* Produced for a club "wall newspaper" devoted to topical events.  The original piece was considerably longer, but this is all that remains!