WITTGENSTEIN'S EXAMPLE.

A WOMAN AND THE POSSIBLE ARRIVAL OF HER MOTHER-IN-LAW.

Her mother-in-law was coming.
Place had to be spick and span.
And the tongue held in check.
Her husband counted off the days,
Informed of ways to avoid bombshells,
Homemade disasters, prolonged rows.
She could see it in her mind’s eye,
The whole Shakespearean drama unfolding,
The almost murders, poisonings,
Stabbings; the long speeches,
The drama queen’s sighs and tears.
Her husband would go through
The list he’d drawn up.
Do not answer back,
Do not contradict,
Try to be patient,
Be calm, make allowances,
Drink black coffee.
She dreaded the day,
The hour, the face at the door,
The suitcases, the look her mother-in-law gave,
That could sink ships,
That could turn tides of rough seas.
Of course, her husband said,
She may not come,
Not after last time’s fiasco,
After the words spoken,
And the police had left.
She said nothing,
Following Wittgenstein’s example
Of saying nothing and being silent,
And all the time hoping he was right.