A Talk with Jean-Ann on Her First Visit to the Farm

You may not put a sugar lump in
Grandmama's ceramic pumpkin.

Take off the lid and look inside:
Isn't it full of fratricide?

Now put on this silver fork --
You won't be paid unless you work.

If you are idle, here's a pin
To stick the little children in;

And the Complete Works, in vellum,
Of Alfred Lord Tennyson;

And big black laquer bowls,
And tennis rackets and basketballs,

And medicine bottles! A Renaissance Pope
Carved from bars of Ivory Soap!

And when you are done, to keep you busy,
I'll spin you around until you are dizzy.

       -- Tom Disch