BRUNSWICK 

Because At-Large councilor Benet Pols was ill for several weeks and had been relegated to monitoring council meetings on Channel 3, Chairwoman Suzan Wilson decided to do him a favor.

In preparation for this Friday’s “Keep a Poem in Your Pocket” day, Wilson saved two poetry verses from the council’s April 1 meeting, in observance of Friday’s National Poetry Month, and passed them down the dais to Pols — who, to Wilson’s mild objection, declined to read them.

A half-hour later, however, during talk of the 2014 municipal budget’s potential increase — which could be as much 19 percent — Pols raised his hand to speak.

“Councilor Pols either wanted to ask a question or read a poem,” Wilson acknowledged, “take your pick.”

“A quick rhyme on 20 percent would be really timely, but I don’t think I could pull it out,” Pols replied.

“There was a man from Fort Kent,” offered Town Manager Gary Brown.

“Who didn’t have the 20 percent,” chimed Wilson.

Pols, who frequently displays a sharp, dry wit during discussion, decided not to trip any further down that particular path.

“Limericks are really dangerous territory that I think I’ll stay away from,” Pols said.