I Missed His Book, But I Read His Name*
Updike, John (1932-)

Though authors are a dreadful clan
To be avoided if you can,
I'd like to meet the Indian,
M. Anantanarayanan.

I picture him as short and tan.
We'd meet, perhaps, in Hindustan.
I'd say, with admirable eŽlan ,
"Ah, Anantanarayanan --

I've heard of you.  The  Times  once ran
A notice on your novel, an
Unusual tale of God and Man."
And Anantanarayanan

Would seat me on a lush divan
And read his name -- that sumptuous span
Of "a's" and "n's" more lovely than
"In Xanadu did Kubla Khan" --

Aloud to me all day.  I plan
Henceforth to be an ardent fan
of Anantanarayanan --
 M . Anantanarayanan.

---

* "The Silver pilgrimage," by M. Anantanarayanan ....160 pages. Criterion. $3.95. The Times

The Oxford Book of American Light Verse (Harmon)