dad’s on his way to the motherland today to see his dead mother.
……

if seventy were young
and death uncommon
(forgiving not divine,
to err inhuman)
or any thine a mine
–dingdong:dongding–
to say would be to sing

if broken hearts were whole
and cowards heroes
(the popular the wise,
a weed a tearose)
and every minus plus
–fare ill:fare well–
a frown would be a smile

if sorrowful were gay
(today tomorrow,
doubting believing and
to lend to borrow)
or any foe a friend
–cry nay:cry yea–
november would be may

that you and i’d be quite
zome such perfection
another i and you,
is a deduction
which(be it false or true)
disposes me to shoot
dogooding folk on sight

-e.e. cummings