The Charge Of The Light Brigade

My mother said The Charge Of The Light Brigade

as she battled about the kitchen.

What it meant was that the valley of death

was an opportunity for the 600.

What it meant equally was that her work,

leading her children toward dinner

With something important to listen to,

was inspiration and fine example.

We knew as well, from the grin on her face,

that the whole business was high farce,

That she and we and the doomed 600

were all small fish at a grand fry,

But in no way was this contradiction.