Help me find this poem

Cafe Society
1

Our class studied this poem in grade school. The subject of the poem is some guy with a problem, depression if I recall. Its point-of-view is some unnamed “authority” discussing why the subject is experiencing this problem. The authority is puzzled because in pouring over all the information they have on him, his work history, medical records, spending habits, etc. they see no cause for concern.

The point of the poem, of course, is the cause for concern is how much information the authority has on the subject - and by extension each of us, with the implication that we’re all under Big Brother’s microscope.

Does this ring any bells for anyone?

2

No idea. Can you give an idea of when and where you were in grade school? Maybe that would help.

3

I’m pretty sure it was Gr.8, which would’ve been 1983. I suspect the poem itself was published long before then.

It was a freeform poem, not quite filling up the page of the smallish textbook it was in - maybe in the 150-200 word range.

Edit: This was in Ignace, Ontario (a tiny bulge of a town on the TransCanada Highway in Northwestern Ontario). It was Mr. Hood’s class.

4

Can you remember some important words or phrases?

-FrL-

5

I wish I could. Some paraphrases are,

“We see from his marriage certificate that he’s been married for years”
“His medical records show no signs of illness”

These are nowhere near direct quotes. The bulk of the poem is a litany of such phrases, ending with the conclusion the guy should be happy.

6

The Unknown Citizen, by W.H. Auden?

“He was found by the bureau of statistics to be
One against whom there was no official complaint
And all the reports on his conduct agree…”

7

Yes! Yes! Thank you!

I am very impressed and ever grateful!