The Little Things (three versions)
by Bill Yarrow
THE LITTLE THINGS (one sentence version)
It's the little things that trip us
up: a small hole in a level field,
an innocuous root in a well-trod
path, a disinclined sidewalk...
yet not every stumble is a fall,
even as by a certain age we've learned
to outmaneuver the looming threat yet
are still upended by tiny bagatelles
and that's why age is a kind of irony
for while we ponder the solutions to
universal health care, world
hunger, and inequalities of wealth,
we are no longer able to safely cross
the street or even tie our shoes.
THE LITTLE THINGS (exclamation mark version)
It's the little things that trip us
up! A small hole in a level field!
An innocuous root in a well-trod
path! A disinclined sidewalk!
Yet not every stumble is a fall!
Even as by a certain age we've learned
to outmaneuver the looming threat! But
we are still upended by tiny bagatelles!
And that's why age is a kind of irony!
Alone we ponder the solutions to
universal health care, world
hunger, and inequalities of wealth!
Yet we are no longer able to safely cross
the street! Or even tie our shoes!
THE LITTLE THINGS (question mark version)
It's the little things that trip us
up? A small hole in a level field?
An innocuous root in a well-trod
path? A disinclined sidewalk?
Yet not every stumble is a fall?
Even as by a certain age we've learned
to outmaneuver the looming threat? But
we are still upended by tiny bagatelles?
And that's why age is a kind of irony?
While we ponder the solutions to
universal health care, world
hunger, and inequalities of wealth?
Yet we are no longer able to safely cross
the street? Or even tie our shoes?
"It's the little things that trip us
up: ..."
I enjoyed it very much.
Enjoyed.
Aptly written *
Thanks, Erika, Gary, and Fos!
it's amazing how the meanings change.*
Wonderful! Fun and interesting too.
Very interesting. However, the first poem is so well written, the exclamation/question marks are already there, albeit invisible
What Erika said.
"It's the little things that trip us up: ..." It sure as heaven does!
Very well written Sir. *
If we could just keep tying our shoes, maybe we wouldn't trip as much? *
Yes, but it's getting harder and harder to do so, isn't it?
Thanks, Beate!
Thank you, Tim, Diane, Reva, Kitty, and Javed!
A sure way to TYU is writing multiple versions.
Tripping up is an early indicator of dementia.
May you flourish and prosper. Otherwise, I fear, who will lead me?
Writing is stumbling. Thanks, Larry!
I keep going back the questioning version, but I cannot escape the one-sentence approach of the original.
Great writing, Bill.
Thanks, Sam!