Tunnels closed, a paused rat race,
Rush hour traffic deviated
The pace of Brussels syncopated!
Airport put on high alert
Unwary travellers to avert
Welcome tension and high drama
For the arrival of Obama!
All eyes and the world’s Press turn
To this President in his second term
Whistle-stop trip: NATO HQ
To Great War graves in Flanders too.
A carefully engineered occasion
With politicians of all persuasion
But King Philip, worried about his brother*,
Represents this State – no other.
Bill Clinton long ago came here
Strolled round the Sablon, had a beer
But Security is now so tight
Obama skips Brussels by night.
The costs for such a trip are high
But vital – if Barack should die
The target of a sniper’s gun
Brussels E.U. role is done!
(c) Poet in the woods 2014
* On 24th March - Prince Laurent was in hospital
Enjoyed that!
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