These, Those, This and That

This used to go here

That was over there

These lived here

Those up over there

These somehow wound up

Next to those

This was still above that

But these didn’t like

Having anything next to em

So they went up to where that was

But still below this

Now, truthfully, those didn’t mind

Being next to these

But that saw that all of them

Were creeping up

And started to panic

Because that never had to deal

With these and those before

And the whole time

This doesn’t care

Because nobody’s going

Anywhere near this

Pretty soon

These and those become them

And that’s wondering

What to do about them

Even though them

Is still the same these and those

They were way back when

This still isn’t panicked

Because this is so much higher

Than that, those, and these

That this is feeling like

No matter where everything else ends up

This’ll be fine

Understandably these and those

Are starting to feel a little cramped

And there are these suggestions made

That maybe these should go back

To their original spot

Where they were before they decided

They didn’t like it

And these are like, ‘Well, why not have those go there

If it’s such a good spot?’

And the obvious answer is

Because it’s not a good spot

So now they’re jockeying to go up

To where that is

And that is getting even more nervous

And so that starts to move

And this finally realizes

That this is serious for this

And says ‘Hey!  No more moving’

And that’s when everybody is kind of like--

Wait, this has been up there

The whole time?

I mean, people knew this was up there

But it was kind of like--

Why think about what’s up there

When you’re never getting up there?

You know?

But then it was like--

Well, why couldn’t we get up there?

These and those decide they want to move

And that makes that go a little crazy

Because that must mean

They want to go to where that is

But they’re not even thinking about that

They’re thinking beyond that now

They’re thinking about this

So this tries to compromise

And offer them the spot

Next to that

And that is like--

Whoa, whoa
Who are you to offer that

To them?

Why don’t you let them

Up there with you?

Why don’t you let me

Up there with you?

And none of this

Sounds good

To this

So this trashes

Where this is

Turns to that

These and those

And says--

Okay, have this

But this isn’t where

This is anymore

But that, these, and those

Don’t know that

About this

They just know

They’re happy

To have somewhere else

To go

Meanwhile this is somewhere else

And we don’t even know

We don’t even know where this is

That’s why when your mother

Said ‘Go find this plate my grandfather gave us

When we got married’

I hold up these plates and that plate

And I know--

The whole time I know

--What plate she’s talking about

She’s talking about this plate

But I don’t know

Where this plate is

That’s why you gotta keep everything

Together, son

You gotta put all your plates

On the same shelf

That’s the lesson there

That’s the only

Lesson
You ever need

To learn