Sixty and Five

  

 

Sixty and Five

A little confusing, don’t you think?

It’s almost my limited understanding,

Quite close to its brink.

 

Placed on a banner,

What will jump out?

Do they not mean Sixty-Five?

Yes, without doubt.

 

That the 5 is a subset of 60

Is not immediately grasped,

Especially if your IQ is like mine:

More than a little daft.

 

Now for the lesson:

Social Studies if you please,

Johnny is not nearly the brightest

But a chance he’ll seize.

 

“Teacher, Teacher!”

I can hear him shout,

“I know the answer, I definitely know,”

But all but him doubt.

 

Correct is not his thing,

He always answers wrong

And right now, the teacher is begging,

“Johnny, please sit down.”

 

But Johnny has this,

He is really convinced

“How old Barbados will be on the 30^th,”

Or so he thinks.

 

 

 

He saw it on a banner,

It stated Sixty and Five,

At least, he could add a little bit

In order to survive.

 

“Okay Johnny, answer up

Since you insist,

Even you, I am forced to admit,

Can’t miss this."

 

“Sixty-five, Teacher, sixty-five!”

The class went silent,

You could hear a pin drop,

The teacher stared with intent.

 

“All who believe Johnny is right

Please stand!”

More than half of the class stood up

With raised hand.

 

It confused them too

And this was clear to see,

They had added Sixty and Five too,

Not just Johnny.

 

 

 

Teachers, here is a reason

To teach set theory:

Especially about what a subset is:

Not just for Johnny.

 

 

 

This would take care

Of the Sixty and Five

As well as those banner persons

Whom I now chide.

 

Stewart Russell © October 31, 2026