The Democratic Judge

In Los Angeles, before the judge who examines people
who are trying to become citizens of the United States
there came an Italian restaurant keeper.
After grave preparations, hindered, though,
By his ignorance of the new language,
In the test he replied to the question:
What is the 8th Amendment? falteringly: 1492.

Since the law demands that applicants
know the language he was refused.
Returning after three months spent on further studies,
Yet hindered by the new language
He was confronted with the question:
Who was the victorious general in the civil war?
His answer was: 1492 (Given amiably in a loud voice).

Sent away again and returning a third time
He answered a third question:
For how long a term are our presidents elected?
Once more he said: 1492.

Now the judge, who liked the man, realised
that he could not learn the language.
And so at his fourth appearance
The judge gave him the question:
When was America discovered?
And on the strength of his correctly answering 1492
The restaurant keeper was granted his citizenship.

A poem by Bertol Brecht written when he was living in America
and trying to account for the generosity of the place to him,
but not necessarily to less feted people.