The sorest ill that Heaven hath

Sent on this lower world in wrath–

Unemployment (to call it by its name)

Waged war on economics,

Sparing no country from the plague.

They died not all, but all were sick.

No jobs were left;

So hope and therefore joy were dead.

Richard the Lion-hearted council held and said:

‘Let us all turn eyes within

And ferret out the hidden sin.’

Himself let no one spare nor flatter,

But make clean conscience in the matter.

‘I Yield myself’, concluded he;

‘And yet I think, in equity,

Each should confess his sins with me.’

Belgians, confessing in their turn,

Thus spoke in tones of deep concern:

‘We have little to say

That you do not know anyway.

Without claiming to be exhaustive

We put a few facts in perspective.

Then turn to summarising

Scanty results on manufacturing.

Next we illustrate a methodology

That was pioneered in our country.

By way of conclusions

We share our interrogations.’