Mr. Dulwitwilliamson

By Indratapa Routh

Mr. Dulwitwilliamson had a big fat family

And this whole family had to look after their baby of three.

Baby had caught cold, so they went to Doctor Wizdumking

Told the doctor baby lived strictly on a diet of ice-cream.

The water baby bathed with was 'bout cold enough to freeze her in

Her soft and soothing quilt came with inbuilt air conditioning.

Doctor gaped in shock, slack-jawed and his mouth hanging open

"No!" He pleaded, "that's the worst state to keep a sick baby in."

Dulwit took the prescription, even as he looked confused

Pocketing doc's fees back in, he slyly sneaked out of the room.

Outside Dulwit was outraged, "my my what the doctor says!

No child of mine will get well in a heated space with useless meds.

No exposure to cold winds, and ice-cream banned for a week?

Never in forever has it been this way in my ancestry."

A group of heads nodded along, elders of the family

Moved by Dulwit's faultless logic, stirred by his sagacity.

"If my child will overcome, it'll only be by power of will!

She'll have to opt from inside to stop sneezing despite the chill."

So traditions continued, as they had for centuries.

Dulwitwilliams thrived in frost, so should their posterity.

Therefore in moved through the door, gallons of frozen dessert

Hint of vanilla, and they were set for dinner, lunch, breakfast.

Feasting table, icy food, entire household stared with hope

Waiting for the toddler to convince herself her throat's not sore.

Armed with a giant nappy, the optimum shield from cold

Baby was thrown, almost starkers, headfirst in a pile of snow.

Expectant gazes, mom and sisters spelled out all the prayers they knew

When would their little one make her running nostrils stop the flu?

Her grandma chided, "come on, shake the illness off, stand on your feet!"

While her teeth keep clattering in a chamber of 5 degrees.

Rumour has it this family's been waiting since '82

Baby has grown way too big, somehow turned both red and blue.

All winter and no treatment has ripped her lungs out into shreds

Immortal Mr. Dulwit is still positive she'll heal again.

Someone go and tell him that disease cannot be willed away

Unless circumstances are ideal sick she'll have to stay.

I would let her out of ice, but where in the world will she tread?

Society thinks we'll power through, when system needs the work instead.

By Indratapa Routh