It's been two long years now
Since Söderköping,
When we started discussing
This resilience thing.

Now we've gathered again,
The location's real nice!
We invited some friends,
Didn't have to ask twice.

Alongside the chic beaches
Of sunny south France
We puzzled out how
To make safe power plants.

Monsieur Rigaud was kept busy
Bustling 'round with the mic.
We spoke of managing safety,
Risk, and the like.

Without David or Nancy
It might have been lacking
But Richard kindly filled in
With superfluous yakking.

Talking 'neath the chilly big top
About practical drift,
Rasmussen-flavour ice-cream,
And if WYLFIWYF?

Now defining resilience's
Still an ongoing task.
Hoping when we get home
That no one will ask!

Is the answer good leaders,
Or perhaps none at all?
Is it elastic or plastic or
Hospitals in free fall?

Keeping plane, train, and nulcear
Worries at bay?
(But as for those poor fisherman
We can't say.)

Is it curves of stress-strain?
Japanes for "gunshot"?
Parades of ants, or small boxes?
At least Tom knows what it's not!

Throughout, Erik sat quietly
(Unlike Dr. Cook!)
To find out what he thinks
We must buy his next book!

Kyla Steele
November 2006