THE SPEECH DELIVERED AT 2704th MEETING OF THE ROYAL OCEANOGRAPHIC SOCIETY

Another poem for and about my wife. Probably interesting for those who suspect their wives to be muses. Or for wives who're not afraid to be ones.

"You do not need to dig and dig

To know that the oceans are very big.

Also this fact comes side by side

With the fact that the oceans are very wide.

But I set your fantasy hard to motion

When I speak about the Little Ocean".

"A little ocean? An honest fox?

You're treating us with a paradox!

Our thoughts begin to reel and swirl!"

"Sit quiet, gentlemen. It's a girl.

She is a girl, she's addressed with "miss",

But concurrently she's an ocean of bliss,

Which in the starlight mysteriously shimmers

And waits for especially lucky swimmers.

To describe more exactly her fashion

I'll admit that sometimes her waves are high,

But still the overall impression

Is of tasting a strawberry pie".

"Hm... it's curious... with her permission

We would consider an expedition

Intent on updating our current maps

And filling some other apparent gaps

In our oceanographic lore.

Where does she reside?" "On the second floor,

Which is maybe an unusual location

For oceans to dwell, but your delegation

Is guaranteed to be offered lunch

With tea and delicious things to munch

And then (a gem for the chosen minority)

To be lectured on oceans by the best authority".