Analysis of A Tisket A Tasket

Lawrence S. Pertillar 1947 (Connecticut)



Hello.
How are 'we' today?

'I'm sorry.
You say something to me?
Listening to music.
Earplugs.
Noise reduction.'

I said hello.
How are 'we' today?

Find?
Find what?
I'm not here looking for anything.

'Okay.
I see where this is going.
You know...
It was many years ago,
I first refused to see a psychiatrist.
To believe everyone else,
Claiming themselves to be normal.
Were...
Well,
Actually visitors from another planet.
And I began to feel.
Out of place and sought some help.'

Continue.
Please do.
This sounds very familiar.
Are you a mind reader,
Prophet or a psychic?

'No.
But I will admit,
No attraction do I have...
To aggravation, irritation,
Or games of B.S.'

That's funny.
I like your sense of humor.
So what advice,
Did that psychiatrist of yours give to you?

'He told me to my face.
As I am telling you to yours.
He said...
The issues and problems,
I believe I then had.
Were my own to solve.
And nobody else.
He then told me,
To look in the mirror.
And all accusations I made will be gone.'

Interesting.
Then what happened?

'Queen of Jazz.
First Lady of song.'

I don't connect.
I don't understand.

'There was this park,
Much like this one here.
That I would frequently go to visit.
And over and over...
I would listen to Ella sing,
Her version...
Of A Tisket A Tasket.'

A Tisket A Tasket?

'Yep.
I changed it up a bit though.
Adding a few of my own lyrics.
And the first thing I would do,
When sitting alone.
Minding my own business.
Humorless.
And enjoying my peace of mind.
I am hoping in seconds to get.
To not miss.
I would put my earplugs in.
Then...
With Ella I would sing...
A Tisket A Tasket,
Not all eggs are cracked...
In my carried wicker basket!'

Wow.
And that works for you?

'Sure does.
You have no idea.
Especially...here. on this bench.
When I am sitting alone.
Quietly.
Minding my own business.
Hoping someone would respect,
I am not into pointless conversations.
Or exchanging names.
To discover more relatives.
On either my mother or father's side,
Of my ever growing family.
No interest do I have,
As to who did who wrong and when.
The temperature of the weather.
Nor the changing of the seasons.
News of division, conflicts or racism.
Or a 'we' to not see.
When it is obvious to 'me'...
To believe it should be,
There is no 'we' but me here.
About to lose both patience...
And my calm to keep cool temper.'

You are so funny.
Can you tell me this though,
Do they sell eggs already cracked?
To notice them.
Before they are put into a basket?

'What?
Oh God no!
Please don't do this to me.
I pray, exercise.
And do everything I can to keep sane!'

Why are you staring at me like that?
I am serious.
And why,
Are you looking up and down...
And around your back?

'I...uh...I really don't know.
There is something unusual going on.'

Unusual?
What do you mean?

'Someone sent you here,
To make me laugh hysterically.
Didn't they?
Confess!'

No.
But I do wonder one thing.

'Please release me let me go.
'Cuz I don't want you anymore.'

THAT IS WHAT I WONDERED ABOUT.
AND WANTED TO KNOW.
YOUR 'REAL' SINGING VOICE.
You...can...sing.
I mean really sing.
I know.
I know to you,
None of this makes any sense.
But...
I am a minister.
And was told I would find you here.

'What on Earth are you talking about?'

I am a minister.
I was told you come to the park.
To sometimes sing.
I want you and your voice in my choir.

'Uh...uh...whoa.
Whoa whoa whoa whoa.
You...
Are what?'

A preacher, minister, man of God.
Whatever it is you wanna call me.

'Scripture lips?
Listen to me.
God has blessed me enough.
I have no desire to sing,
Hip hop, house, rock, blues or rap.
You will not use my voice,
To get down, drop it while it's hot.
In no church these days.
For the purpose to recruit sinners.
I am an independent lover,
Of my own sins.
And everyday when I awaken,
I testify.
Thanking God,
To have blessed me to survive through...
Another day.'

If you change your mind,
Give me call.
Here's my card.

You have a great day.

'I will. You too?'

Whew.
Nice try,
ONE ALMIGHTY.
Your ways, Most High?
Are getting a bit too mysterious for me.
You sure know how to test my faith.
I was close.
Very.
I was about to go off!
I mean...
Full blast.
Fast and loud!


Scheme aB ccdef aB ghi biaaxjklxhxx mmlld Axnfe clxm xxxxxxjclx ix xx ox pqhlifb B xaxmrSsgxxxtiBuh xm xxxrcSovxxxcntlvxcccqxl cauxh hacxx xswxx ax kx qcbx Ai ax yazdiamxhLq y Lpil xamh 1 c xcxixzxxxlxfw1 mb gxx b m mwcwcxxcxxxx
Poetic Form Tetractys  (33%)
Metre 01 11101 110 111011 100110 1 1010 1101 11101 1 11 11110110 1 1111110 11 1110101 11011100100 101101 10011110 0 1 100100101010 010111 1110111 010 11 1110010 110110 101010 1 11101 1010111 1010010 1111 110 1111110 1101 11010011111 111111 11110111 11 010010 101111 01111 011 1111 110010 0101011111 100 1110 111 11011 1101 1101 1111 11111 1111001110 010010 11101101 010 10101 0101 1 1111011 100111110 0011111 11001 101110 100 00101111 111001011 111 111110 1 110111 0101 11111 01101010 1 01111 11 111010 1111 1111001 100 101110 101101 1110110010 10101 10101100 1101101101 111010100 110111 11111101 01001010 10101010 1101001110 101111 11110011 101111 1111111 0111110 01111110 11110 111111 11110101 1101 0111101010 1 111 111111 1110 011011111 111101111 11100 01 1110101 00111 11011 1110010101 010 1111 1111 1111100 101 01 1 1111011 1011111 1111101 11111001 01011 11101 1 11101 11 1111 1111101 1 110100 01111111 111111001 110100 11111101 1011 1110110110 1 1111 1 11 010100111 101111011 101 1011 111101 11101011 1111111 111111 11111111 01111 101010110 11101010 1111 010111010 110 101 11111011 0101 11111 111 111 11011 1111 1 11 1010 1111 110011010011 11111111 111 10 1101111 11 11 101
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 4,272
Words 1,035
Sentences 177
Stanzas 35
Stanza Lengths 2, 5, 2, 3, 12, 5, 5, 4, 10, 2, 2, 2, 7, 1, 16, 2, 23, 5, 5, 5, 2, 2, 4, 2, 2, 11, 1, 4, 4, 2, 16, 3, 1, 1, 12
Lines Amount 185
Letters per line (avg) 17
Words per line (avg) 4
Letters per stanza (avg) 88
Words per stanza (avg) 22
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Submitted by lpahtillah on January 16, 2022

Modified by lpahtillah on January 17, 2022

5:14 min read
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