Suddenly his shadow creeps on me
The tiptoeing man a new recruit
Walks with the tray of glasses of tea
There couldn’t be a man more mute!

The most conspicuously inconspicuous
He walks the office hall as in a trance
On a mission of filling and refilling glass
Seeing therein his salvation’s chance!

He moves around in a rigid detachment
Never hurrying and looking never eager
Except when he asks if you need sugar
All the day he repeats this one statement!

About him my envy I would now confide
Ill paid though he has taken life into stride
Lies unlocked in his breast the one mystery
One wealth to which he has found the key!