For Mrs Thatcher's visit the Chinese
Have laid on a Grade Three official greeting.
Which doesn't mean the bum's rush or the freeze:
She gets an honour guard at the first meeting.
But not much bunting flutters in the breeze.
Tian'anmen Square contains no special seating.
Instead there is a lot of open space
With here and there a mildly curious face.

LRB 10 January 1983 | PDF Download