You may have-- the title of this next poem
if you don't know what it is when I say it you might
think it's slightly funny.
It's called "The Blue Booby" and it's a bird.
[LAUGHTER]
It's a bird.
And well, I don't think I want to comment about it on it.
I think you'll understand it.
The blue booby lives on the bare rocks of Galapagos
and fears nothing.
It is a simple life.
They live on fish and there are few predators.
Also, the males do not make fools of themselves
chasing after the young ladies.
Rather they gather the blue objects of the world
and construct from them a nest.
An occasional Gaulois package, a string of beads,
a piece of cloth from a sailor's suit.
This replaces the need for dazzling plumage.
In fact, in the past 50 million years
the male has grown considerably duller nor can he sing well.
The female though asks little of him.
The blue satisfies her completely,
has a magical effect on her.
When she returns from her day of gossip and shopping,
she sees he has found her a new shred of blue foil.
For this she rewards him with her dark body.
The stars turn slowly and the blue foil beside them
like the eyes of a mild savior.
[APPLAUSE]