E Unibus Pluram

When a Politician

Dreams about his sweetheart,
Does he multiply her
Face into a crowd...?
- W. H. Auden

When a Policeman
Dreams about his sweetheart,
Does he inquire her
Of recent behaviour...?

When a Professor
Dreams about his sweetheart,
Does he demote her
to the second author...?

When a Doctor
Dreams about his sweetheart,
Does he diagnose her
In his area of specialization...?

When a Scientist
Dreams about his sweetheart,
Does he patent his
observations about her...?

When a Librarian
Dreams about his sweetheart,
Does he stack her
At arm's length...?

When an Artist
Dreams about his sweetheart,
Does he paint her
Deliberately abstract...?

Or 

are we all,
in various degrees,
Dreamers of the truest kind -
letching for Power.