Less Than Nothing! Poem by Dr. Tulsi Hanumanthu

Less Than Nothing (An Ottawa Rima)

At a 'Senior Citizens' Club', one day,
There was an uproar; and during the row,
In Tamil most members did have their say.
Said Singh to Naidu: 'I could follow
Nothing at all of these Tamilian's fray.
But what it's about, I think you know?

Naidu replied: 'Less have I understood
Than yourself: my version would be no good'.

Rejoined Singh: 'How can you understand 'less'?
Less than nothing, can anything be? '
Caught unawares, but showing no stress,
Naidu reflected while sipping his tea.
He then said: 'I've misunderstood the whole mess;
And as you will surely agree with me -

Misunderstanding is much worse a thing
Than not understanding; hence less than nothing.