He Tells Her
(for Ruth B.)
He tells her that the Earth is flat —
He knows the facts, and that is that.
In altercations fierce and long
She tries her best to prove him wrong.
But he has learned to argue well.
He calls her arguments unsound
And often asks her not to yell.
She cannot win. He stands his ground.
The planet goes on being round.
■
(for Ruth B.)
He tells her that the Earth is flat —
He knows the facts, and that is that.
In altercations fierce and long
She tries her best to prove him wrong.
But he has learned to argue well.
He calls her arguments unsound
And often asks her not to yell.
She cannot win. He stands his ground.
The planet goes on being round.
■
Hello Friends,
Do you have an argument you lost that’s stuck with you? Do you believe “she cannot win” is a permanent state, or does the last line indicate it might just be temporary?
It was hard to pick just one poem to send you from the delightful 2023 collection The Orange and Other Poems by Wendy Cope. The title poem from that collection, “The Orange,” was previously featured for poem-a-day here.
— Ællen
Do you have an argument you lost that’s stuck with you? Do you believe “she cannot win” is a permanent state, or does the last line indicate it might just be temporary?
It was hard to pick just one poem to send you from the delightful 2023 collection The Orange and Other Poems by Wendy Cope. The title poem from that collection, “The Orange,” was previously featured for poem-a-day here.
— Ællen