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Shakespeare's Monkeys

Infinite Monkeys. Infinite Typewriters.

May 16, 2025  

More in Snapshots of grace

Haiku 24th June 2008

What time is it Mr Wolf? 10 o'clock... What time is it Mr Wolf? 10 o'clock... What time is it Mr Wolf? Time to gobble you up!

 

 

childs laughter
as we all play 'Mr. Wolf'
in the hospice

 

 

 

This haiku is true in the best sense. Though Dad is not in a hospice his illness is termial and the end very close. Three year old Abigail visited Dad on the ward today and made us all play 'Mr. Wolf' and 'Ring a ring of roses' (Ring around the rosie) Dad smiled and smiled and smiled. A good day to remember.

The games we played seem to me to be a good metaphore for our adult waiting for the inevitable to happen at some unstated time soon.

Norm - on June 27 2008
This deceptively simple little poem sent my mind reeling with all sorts of implications.  This is just wonderful.  It's something I wish I had written, but the circumstance of its conception makes it yours and yours alone.
Pags, IFPN - on June 27 2008
Thank you for your comments. A brief update - Dad slipped away into the cracks between sleep and eternity at dawn this morning. In the end the good death I prayed would be his.
Anstey - on June 27 2008
This is very quite good. The idea of that specific game, the lingering of death implied at the hospice referring back to it. The word hospice by itself carries so much. the dissonance of play with the word hospice, the word laughter with the word wolf. The word 'mr' next tot he wolf - which seems like death there, and the formality next to it. ALl the nice contrasts in a very smooth image.
Derma Kaput - on June 27 2008
That's a very powerful ku Pags
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