The Emissary

William was sent at the behest of his Excellency

King Menelik II of Ethiopia

As a goodwill ambassador

To the Illustrious President Theodore Roosevelt.

Although this White House did not rest

On pomp and circumstance,

This emissary exuded an innate awkwardness.

He came by it naturally.

He lacked all formality,

Only going by his Western name “Bill.”

He would hover in the far corner,

Cowardly at worst, or conflict avoidant at best.

He laughed at all the wrong times,

Especially when serious matters were at hand.

He was untrained and uncouth,

Frequently eating off the dinner table with no plate at all.

Yet Teddy warmed up to him as he got to know him better,

For he quickly learned this emissary could be taught tricks.

But even this nature-loving President tired of this lackey,

For a hyena living in the White House was no laughing matter.

About the author

John Johnson is a writer and entrepreneur from McLean, Virginia. His recent poetry has been published in Unique Poetry, The Daily Drunk, and What Rough Beast. He is also the co-author of the book Everydata: The Missing Information in the Little Data You Consume Every Day.