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 30th,”
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
