Shambles

  *

  Silly Verse.

  4. Yes and No.

  “Hullo,” said Mr. No to Mr. Yes

  And Mr. Yes became distressed.

  “Who addresses me?” asked Mr. Yes

  As Mr. No began to go.

  Knowing Yes was so distressed

  No paused, uncertain he could go

  And in a dither began to show

  As much distress as Mr. Yes.

  “Well, who are you?” asked Mr. Yes.

  “I must confess I do not know.”

  “No, said No. “No?” asked Yes

  “Yes,” said No. “Oh,” said Yes.

  “You?” asked No. “Yes,” said Yes

  “By which I mean my name is Yes.”

  “Right,” said No. “And do you know,

  That I am known as Mr. No?”

  “Good,” said Yes, “But I must go.”

  “Oh no,” wailed No. “Oh Yes!” said Yes.

  “Oh dear,” moaned No. “Adieu,” said Yes,

  “Nice to meet you. All the best.”

  “We’ll have to write,” said Mr. No.

  “Oh yes,” said Yes, “Here’s my address.”

  “Oh no,” cried No, again distressed.

  “My dear,” said Yes, “Aren’t you impressed?”

  “Oh yes,” said No, “But I don’t know

  If to my place you’d like to go.”

  “Oh yes,” grinned Yes. “Oh yes?” asked No,

  “Of course,” said Yes. “Just let me know.”

  “I will,” said No. “Where do you go?”

  “What now?” asked Yes. “Why yes,” said No.

  “You know, dear No,” admitted Yes,

  “It’s very silly I confess…”

  “It is?” asked No. “Oh yes,” said Yes,

  “For while I know my own address,

  I’ve quite forgotten…well, you know,

  Exactly where was I to go.”

  “Oh no!” cried No. “Oh yes,” said Yes

  “Oh dear,” groaned No. “I said Hullo,”

  “Oh yes,” said Yes, “I get distressed

  Whenever I have been addressed.”

  “I know,” said No, and began to go,

  “That’s it,” cried Yes. “It is?” asked No.

  “Oh yes,” said Yes, “For don’t you know…”

  “No,” said No. “But onward go.”

  “I will,” said Yes, “For I suggest,

  It wasn’t Yes who went to go.”

  “I know,” said No. “You do?” checked Yes

  “I do,” said No, “Yet, do you know,”

  “No,” said Yes. “Oh yes, you do,

  For now you know No went to go.”

  “Ah, yes,” said Yes, “I also know

  Why I forgot.” “Quite so,” said No.

  “I’m the one who went to go.”

  “Go?” asked Yes. “Oh yes,” said No.

  “But where?” asked Yes. “Somewhere,” said No.

  “Oh yes?” asked Yes. “Oh yes,” said No.

  “Now you know that, I profess.”

  “Hah, hah,” said Yes. “You do not know.”

  “No,” said No, “Or rather, yes.”

  “Then that’s all right,” said Mr. Yes.

  “It is?” asked No. “Oh yes,” said Yes.

  “This is a very silly mess,

  That came about because, oh no!

  Remind me, how did it go?”

  “Hullo,” said Mr. No, to Mr. Yes….

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