Contact the Sri Chinmoy Centre

Before sending a message, check if there are local contact details for a Sri Chinmoy Centre in your country (see the list below). If you don't see your country, then please use this form and we'll make sure it gets to the right person.

For copyright and media requests, you can also use this form.

form.antibot { display: none !important; } You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form.

Local contacts: Australia • Bangladesh বাংলাদেশ • Bosnia and Herzegovina • Brazil Brasil • Bulgaria България • Canada • Czech Republic Česko • Croatia Hrvatska • Estonia • France • Finland Suomi • Georgia საქართველო • Great Britain • Ghana • Greece Ελλάδα • Hungary • Iceland Ísland • India • Indonesia • Ireland • Italy Italia • Japan 日本 • Kenya • Macedonia • Mongolia Монгол • Nepal नेपाल • Netherlands Nederland • New Zealand • Portugal • Puerto Rico • Russia Россия • Serbia • Singapore • Slovenia Slovenija • Slovakia Slovensko • South Africa • United States

• German-speaking countries/Deutschsprachige Länder Germany, Austria and Switzerland
• Spanish-speaking countries/Países de habla hispana Spain, Central and South America

» »

The Prime Minister’s Visit

The Prime Minister to see you Sir.

Does the Prime Minister play bridge?

Oh, not here Sir –

In Iceland, I think.

Is that a floor cat slipping or a tap dripping?

Our Prime Minister collects clocks –

Antique ones at that.

Ah, what could be more fitting than a floor cat slipping.

Or was it — a phone ringing?

It’s the Prime Minister at the door Sir —

And he’s carrying a box.

Are you sure it’s not just the floor cat slipping —

Or a newspaper clipping?

Perhaps he plays tennis —

It’s all the rage in America, you know.

Was that the floor cat slipping —

Or was I dreaming?

Commentary

This poem is reminiscent of a gentler era when tennis was just taking off in America and telephones were as rare then as floor cats are today. In a time less rushed, you might expect a visit from the Prime Minister. Some things, however, have remained the same — our Prime Minister does collect antique clocks and in Iceland, the Prime Minister still drops in for a friendly game of bridge. The image of the floor cat was taken from one of e.e. cummings’ poems. I like the idea of him (the cat, not mr. cummings) slipping in and out, between the lines of the poem. (3-5-1995)

Return to Poetry Index

Writing & Poetry

More stories from Sri Chinmoy's students.

'It was like I was seeing who Guru really was: this extraordinary, beautiful being inside a physical body'

Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand

Contact the Sri Chinmoy Centre

The Prime Minister’s Visit