Jill And Jack

By Dhriti Banerjee

Jack said, “Jill, go up the hill,

And fetch a pale of water.”

Jill said, “Jack, cut me some slack.

I just came back from the potter.”

“Don’t be cruel, I need it for school.

It’s due in a day and a quarter.”

“I’m aware. But no time to spare.

I must help Mother at the altar.”

“Just do it before you go. As far as I know,

This is a job for the wives and daughters.”

“Stop beating around the bush! You just want to be on your tush,

While using me as your personal swotter.”

Jill stormed off enraged. She refused to engage,

With that spoiled-privileged-plotter.

Jack stood perplexed. He wondered why Jill was vexed;

After all, this was her forté, her skill.

With no choice in hand, Jack had to take a stand,

And began his journey atop the hill.

The climb was rough; he huffed and puffed.

The well was far away still.

That day he learnt, why Jill’s arms were sunburnt,

As he hiked through the trees and sill.

Once he reached the well, on his knees he fell,

And steadied his breath and will.

He filled his pale and took a sharp inhale.

The challenge back down was to avoid any spills.

Alas, he faltered, his motion he couldn’t alter,

And he took a tumble down the hill.

In school, the next day,

Jack had a lot to say.

The teacher smiled and encouraged him to speak his mind.

He said, “All my life I’ve been blind.”

“A pale of water I failed to fetch,

For ignorance in my mind is etched.”

“Water is something all people drink.

Yet shouldering the responsibility is where we shrink.”

“Enforcing such stereotypes is easy.

But that just makes us uncouth and sleazy.”

“I may not match my sister’s flair.

But one day, I will surely get there.”

Thus Jack and Jill went up the hill,

To fetch a pale of water.

He did not fall down, nor broke his crown.

Neither did she come tumbling after.

For Jack helped Jill and Jill helped Jack,

Each time the other faltered.

By Dhriti Banerjee