THE SOIREE

Four score young poets meet 
in a metropolitan city. 
So many living 
in one century 
no one country has  !
Times have changed  !  
So has
their  number and
their tete-a-tete !
Years ago:
What were they writing ?
What was being written ?
A comment,  a lament,  a complaint !
 Some excitement !
But now :
A mere meaningless conversation  !
Jobs and jubilations !
Grants and gratifications  !  
Influences  and references !
Honours  and honorariums !  
But
no talk of poetry !