The uncertainty of the poet

In April 1985 the Tate Gallery, London, announced that it had paid £1 million for a Giorgio de Chirico masterpiece, 'The Uncertainty of the Poet'.

I am a poet.
I am very fond of bananas.

I am bananas.
I am very fond of a poet.

I am a poet of bananas.
I am very fond.

A fond poet of 'I am, I am' -
Very bananas,

Fond of 'Am I bananas,
Am I?' - a very poet.

Bananas of a poet!
Am I fond?' Am I very?

Poet bananas! I am.
I am fond of a 'very'.

I am of very fond bananas.
Am I a poet?

- Wendy Cope -

published in Serious Concerns, 1992, faber and faber, p.33