Where Motley Is Worn

I have met them at close of day
Coming with vivid faces
From terminals and hacking tools among grey
Twenty first century offices.
I have passed with a nod of the head
Of polite meaningless words,
Or have lingered a while and said
Polite meaningless words,
And thought before I had done
Of a mocking tale or a gibe
To please a co-conspirator
Around the fire in the pub,
Being certain that they and I
But lived where mafia is law:
All changed, changed utterly:
A terrible beauty is born.

W.B. Yeats Redux