The Grand Inquisitor

"Do you know, Alyosha--don't laugh! I made a poem about a year ago. If you can waste another ten minutes on me, I'll tell it to you."

"You wrote a poem?"

"Oh no, I didn't write it," laughed Ivan, "and I've never written two lines of poetry in my life. But I made up this poem and remembered it. I was carried away when I made it up. You will be my first reader, that is, listener. Why should an author forego even one listener?" smiled Ivan. "Shall I tell it to you?"

"I am all attention," said Alyosha.

"My poem is called 'The Grand Inquisitor'; it's a ridiculous thing, but I want to tell it to you."