Stumpy and the Decision Tree                                             by Thorold May
                     page seventeen
Do you use that thing a whole lot then?
He asked in a wary way, but plunged on
For his desperate end, without pause;
Fact is, um Stumpy
I really need to know a bit of guff
'Cause the sharks are biting at my bum
And those wheels out there will never beat them to the gun.

Be my guest, came the quick reply, I know that feeling well;
This business hangs by fish hooks in the clouds …
The stranger slipped without a word upon his task,
His fingers flew, and numbers danced like dervishes
About a witch's brew, while Stumpy watched
And marvelled, and envied such control
Of empires built and banished with the speed of thought.

next page               index page


 
"Stumpy and the Decision Tree" copyrighted to Thorold May 2000; all rights reserved