Most times when an idea for a poem occurs to me, it’s the first line and always divinely inspired. This one was the phrase I made the title after seeing a book titled The Republic of Plato, which is ostensively about Plato’s The Republic, which I’ve read enough of to understand.

Popeye, I’ve seen Bluto
In the Republic of Pluto.
He stole Mickey Mouse’s dog too.
That sounds rude, tho.
Olive’s not a dog nor is she really Oil.
This whole scheme is stale and it’s
Starting to spoil.