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once upon a time meets once

Chapter one of Cakes in Space, published by OUP


once upon a time there was a once
that did not know time
so it took a chance
and tried to plan a lesson
for itself.

once went to the school
You can say
once was a determined fool
but knew not how to count.
When his fingers gave up
he only had 10.
So once shared the problem with the principal
The principal stared at the time table
Spilled some water
And said “I will be back gentlemen”.
She took out a paper and a pen, aka quill
and
Asked once to dip hand in arctic blue bottle
.
.
.
once still could not tell one from eleven
Or two from a cute smile lying later flat
Or flat from home
Or later from time
Or time from getting stuck
Or stuck from struck
Or struck from lightning
Or lightning from sunshine
Or sunshine from winter
Principal smiled her blanket smile
She then understood the trouble was actually in paradise & said
once you ain't supposed to understand time
by counting

once upon a time there was once
that was used to tell stories
and that is how you should understand this time as.




Last chapter of a lovely, intelligent book, Cakes in Space

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