ROMAN

My grandfather Max must often
Have seen Archie Goodwin
Since the two of them worked
On the same block -- Archie
Needling Nero Wolfe into being
The world's greatest detective
And Max making women's coats.
That Max was mostly real
And Archie mostly fictional
Would not have prevented
A degree of friendship.
When I read the old books
I always hope a case will turn
On some fine point of tailoring
And Wolfe will say "Archie,
Have Mr. Silver in my office
A few minutes after six."