the humanist and the quietist
walked along the beach
and had a respectful dispute
about freedom of speech

their plimsolls were leaving traces
on the golden sand
the evening sun embraced them
and everything felt grand

they had time to puff on their pipes
about once or twice
before their wives distracted them
with asking for advice

their children’s wedding was pretty soon
and all was mess and froth
on top of that, the wives couldn’t agree
on the colour of the tablecloth

an hour of scandal, some broken plates
torn shreds of hair and squeal
that moment the phrase ‘freedom of speech’
seemed absurd and unreal

the humanist and the quietist
miraculously survived
but their philosophical views
were now very much deprived

by TETIANA ALEKSINA
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