Had I been on the Titanic

probably, I would have busied  myself

arranging deckchairs, maybe dusting,

while I ignored the screaming, the pushing 

and shoving and fighting for life jackets.

Probably, I would have been humming.

Had I been Marie Antoinette,

probably, I would have offered cake

to the furious folk who wanted bread,

hoping to show them I was a nice person

and they ought not chop off my head.

Had I been Poppaea Sabina, Nero’s second wife,

probably,  I would have suggested

he put down his fiddle while Rome

was burning. Probably, too much destruction

for a home renovation.

Although, Nero did murder his mother.

Although, I really don’t like a bother.