Okay, kids, class has begun.
Here is problem number one:
If every child must have at least
one brother and one sis,
what is the minimum of kids
in a family such as this?
All right, kids, now get a clue.
Here is problem number two:
If instead of one they
must have two of each,
how high will that
minimum number reach?
Very well, then, stay with me,
here is problem number three:
If a man has twelve chickens
and all die but five
how many chickens
are still alive?
Okay, kids, ready for more?
Here is problem number four:
If you have a sore
you can apply salve,
but take two apples from three
apples and what do you have?
All right, now, don't give me jive,
here is problem number five:
Two coins have I, with a value of thirty
cents. They are both clean;
neither one is dirty.
Now help me remember; I'm in a pickle:
what are the two coins, if
one of them is NOT a nickel?
Now I'm really in a fix,
here is problem number six:
A woman gives a beggar a dime.
To not give more -was that a crime?
For the woman was the beggar's sister, you see,
but the beggar was not the woman's brother!
How can that be?
For number seven
don't just sit and stare,
but tell me, how far can a bug
crawl into a square?
Finally! Now this is great!
Here is problem number eight:
Late at night three men did arrive
at a shabby hotel -really a dive.
Each wanted a room, but there was just one
so they would have to share -not much fun.
How much for the room? They asked the clerk.
Thirty dollars, replied the jerk.
So they each paid ten, and went to bed,
but then the manager arrived and said
to the clerk: How much did you charge?
When told, said, Oh, no, that sum is too large!
Twenty-five is the price, now take these five ones
and give back to the men. Return when you're done.
But the clerk returned just one to each man
and kept two for himself.A wicked plan!
So each man ended up paying just nine
since they got one back; they thought that was fine.
Nine times three is twenty-seven (thirty less three)
plus the two of the clerk is twenty-nine, you see.
So will you kindly give me a holler
When you find that other dollar?
(Scroll down to find the answers in the 'Poet's notes about the poem', but try to figure out the answers before you do so.)
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Got them all this time but I had no memory of trying them before
This time I missed the beggar being a female and a sister
Well, it had been more than two years, so you can be forgiven for not remembering. Thanks for commenting.