First Lines Second Thoughts — At Swim-Two-Birds

Two birds and a vacant face.

Having placed in my mouth
sufficient bread
for three minutes' chewing,
I withdrew my powers
of sensual perception and
retired into the privacy
of my mind,
my eyes and face
assuming a vacant and
preoccupied expression.   


— Flann O'Brien


First Lines, Second Thoughts is a look at the first lines of well known literary works.
On second thought, do these opening words stand alone as poetry?