I have a bad habit of versifying jokes, and after Earsman's offer, we could use a little levity. When David workshopped this dramatic sonnet, he was criticized for the excrutiating off-off-rhyme in its final couplet, a touch I thought was perfect.
Cushioning the Blow
We thought it best to leave the cat with Ted
along with Grandma, when we went away.
No sooner were we home from holiday
than, bluntly, he announced the cat was dead.
“Listen!” I said, “Bad news is better told
obliquely--such as, ‘Bess went climbing on
the roof, and fell. Her legs and back were gone.
They tried to save her but she was too old.’ ”
Ted--who’s direct but not a thoughtless man--
was chastened (so he said) and mortified.
“Don’t worry, Cousin Edward”, I replied.
“We all drop clangers. By the way, how’s Gran?”
“Not great”, he said. “In fact, to tell the truth,
last night she went out climbing on the roof……”
|
Threaded Mode
