When In Rome: Improving Foreign Relations

When I'm traveling and away from you, Not to worry, dear, my love is true. I remind myself that I'm still yours When I find myself on foreign shores In a tryst with a miss behind closed doors, It's not straying, it's "diplomacy", Part of my "Good Neighbor" policy. How else can I explain a flirty dame on a train in Spain? It would be impolite to refrain from joining her for a brew. I may not always stop to think, While teetering on the brink, How easily one little drink can turn into a few, But bibulistically, When in Rome I do as the Romans do. If a femme makes an overture in France to chercher l'amour, And it leads to a brief séjour, it's not romance I pursue. I'll learn more French in an hour From Mademoiselle in her bower Than at the Louvre, or the Tower, or even Notre Dame, too, And linguistically, When in Rome I do as the Romans do. So don't shed tears bitterly over pictures from Italy Of my guide Isabella and me, my heart still beats true. Each time I give in to a yen, It's just so I'll know where I've been 'til I'm back in the States once again, Rendezvousing with you. So euphemistically, When in Rome, I might go for a "spin" in Rome, 'cause, Dear, I hear it's a sin in Rome Not to do as the Romans do. Author's note: According to my archives, dear reader, I wrote this piece in 2016 and published it here on Poetry Soup shortly thereafter. I was later thrilled and delighted when it was selected to be included in the very first "PS: It's Poetry" anthology published by PS in 2020. It is one of my personal favorites of all the pieces I have written to date, and so I think it's due for another airing.