Maffs Poem by David Taylor

'What are you doing Pooh? ' Asked Christopher Robin.

'Oh, its maffs', said Pooh.

'What's that Pooh'?

'Well', said Pooh 'its like what you told me you do at school,
but it seems a bit diffrent.'

'Can I see? '

Pooh put down his pencil and gave Christopher Robin
the honey smeared napkin on which he had written:

1 x 1 = 1
1 / 1 = 1
1 + 1 = 1

'I see' said Christopher Robin,
'but shouldn't one plus one equal two? '
'I know that's what you told me Christopher Robin
but well, I thought;
the first one and the second one are both the same one.'
'Yes' said Christopher Robin.
'So if they are both the same you still only have one,
don't you, Christopher Robin? '

Christopher Robin thought for a moment,
how to explain this to Pooh, a bear of little brain?
Who he loved dearly.

'Pooh' said Christopher Robin,
'look at those honey pots on the table,
how many are there? '
'Two' said Pooh, 'but they are not the same,
one's small and round and yellow
the other one's bigger and rounder and a diffrent yellow.
And the pots aren't important' said Pooh,
'I only like them 'cause they have honey inside,
and I could take all the honey that's left
and put it in one pot,
which I do on Fridays when I tidy up.'

'I see' said Christopher Robin,
'but I don't think Miss Granger at School will like this answer Pooh.'

'Does Miss Granger like honey as much as I do Christopher Robin? ' Asked Pooh.

'I don't think anyone likes honey as much as you do Pooh' said Christopher Robin.

'And I don't think I like Maths as much as she does' Pooh replied.

'I love you Pooh' said Christopher Robin.
'I love you' said Pooh,
'Is that two loves, Christopher Robin? ' Asked Pooh.