Since Stanley felt the icy blast
Jack leads the Opposition.
A mild, scholastic man to cast
For such a tough position.
Fit for some rude iconoclast
Or thick-skinned politician.

His academic mind e'er seeks
Direct appeals to reason;
He thinks a deal before he speaks,
And ever speaks in season.
Quibbling, to him, with folly reeks,
And sophistry is treason.

All sentiment he safely locks
Within; and jokes unnerve him;
No soap or any other box
As pedestal would serve him.
He'd analyse a paradox;
And jibes can never swerve him.

A poor equipment, this, you'd say,
To meet the hurly-burly.
Where votes are wheedled in a way
Both devious and curly.
We may grow up to Jack some day.
He's sound, but somewhat early.