Protocol

Horace P. Happleby, government clerk,
Approved large purchases in his work.
All day he sat in his government chair
And put his initials in a square.

One day poor Horace, I'm afraid,
Did something unexpected.
He made an approval he shouldn't have made;
It had to be corrected.

Now this, say government officials,
Is what to do (that is, just in case you're
Interested): Step 1. Erase your initials
And Step 2. Initial your erasure.

© Edmund Conti