Portillo

Tannoy voice intoning slow:
My name is Michael Portillo.
A mirthless, Earthbound C-3PO,
plugged in and charging in the dining car;
later interfacing
in puce blazers and turquoise trouserings
with bemused humanoids,
following commands from a distant star:
Wait until you get to Crewe.
You will know just what to do.

Getting up a full head of steam
on cool interstellar tracks.
He wants to ride us out of town.
I don't think we're coming back.

B.R. 09/01/2018