OTI:one poem and notes:9/17/17

Open To Interpretation

Tie

"Once a second comes in

For a first,

A third must follow,

A second of the second,

And a fourth follows the third,

A second of the second of the second,

And then a fifth follows the fourth,

A second of the second of the second of the second.

This sequence of five begins over in the event of a tie."

Said Nemo.

"Worms in their burrows,"

Said Petra,

"What are you babbling about, Nemo?"

"Citing the rule book."

Said Nemo.

"The sun behind a cloud,"

Said Petra,

"Orpheus is done then."

"Just so," said Nemo.

"Unless there is a tie.

Then he would come to stage

In the third inning of the second innings."

"We're ahead 4 to 2,"

Said Dana,

"If we win the fourth inning it will be 6 to 2. 

We will be assured a tie

Even if the Hexagons win inning 5,

And their home advantage inning 6.

True?"

"True."  Said Nemo.

"The ledge's edge, "

Said Petra,

"Are the innings after a tie, sudden death?

Whoever wins an inning wins?"

"They're something," said Nemo,

"But not sudden.

In the event of a tie, the innings don't end. 

Score is kept, but no one wins, and no one loses."

"What use a round arrow?"

Said Petra,

"And I suppose I remain Judge."

"The whole purpose of the contest,"

Said Nemo, taking a deep breath,

"Is to arrive at a tie.

Then the poets have a nursery,

A back and forth between

Tried and true

Pentagon and Hexagon champions

Making poems

Nurtured by a truer than true Judge."

"Hands on hips!"

Said Petra

"How long has Blue Sky been champion?"

"Since the trade, since you last saw him."

Said Nemo.

"All that while a tie?"

Petra asked.

"No," said Nemo, "he has defeated

All the Pentagon's challengers.

There have been no ties

Over all that long time."

Petra looked across the theater,

Seeing Blue Sky prepared, standing,

Ready to take the stage.
"We will defeat the Hexagons."
Said Petra,
"We have poets.
Poe will be next.
Then, Black Dragon Pet."
At this, Nemo's eyebrows rose.
"What else happens, Nemo,"

Petra continued,

"Besides our being able to go home,

If we win?"

"Blue Sky is ours, his life to do with as we will."

Said Nemo.

"And our champions free too?"
Asked Petra.

"Normally, no," said Nemo,
"But I've arranged a trade for such a contingency,
And William and his players have agreed to it. 
The Pentagons are eager to have him. 
In fact,
The Hexagons are delirious at the prospect--
I've brought them Euripides. 
They've had quite enough of Blue Sky."

"Gordian's knot re-knotted!"

Said Petra.

"And who was the sorry fool

Truer than true Judge all this long while?"

Nemo looked down, said,

"Me."

"Just so," said Petra.

"And how so not so now...?"

"Oh,"

Said Nemo,

"Judges are free to stand down

Anytime,
The contest at their whim."

"But you said..."

Said Petra,

"Deus machina!

Never mind."

Petra went to the stage,

Took her seat,

Announced,

"The contest is over!"

And ran to Blue Sky,

Hugged him and said,

"You're with us,

We have a Town."

Nemo laughed to see,

And gathered the crew

Aboard BlackSpace Ship Wonder,

Homeward bound,

Minus Euripides,

William and his players,

And too Nemo for a bit

While he presided over

A Hexagons Pentagons contest

Sure to begin in a tie.

DolphinWords

Note: Nemo had snagged William Shakespeare and his players from Indie Ship Red Dragon off the shores of Sierra Leone...Verne brought along Euripides aboard the Nautilus awhile back...ral...

:)

DavidDavid