Alexander, or: Alexander

Posted on March 22, 2021 by ben Alexander

A quadrille in memory of Papa ^z”l

(in two limericks)

I.

Alexander hacked the Gordian Knot;
Defeated all armies he fought;
With lightning sword,
Secured his reward...
... Unknown remains his burial plot

II.

My Papa conceived 'Cut The Knot',
Believing education ought be rethought
Blazing forth new path,
Spreading passion for math;
Personal gain? Merely... afterthought

The above combination of two limericks is my take on d’Verse’s Quadrille challenge #124.

The quadrille is simply a poem of 44 words (excluding the title), and it can take any form. This week’s challenge was to use the word “knot” in a quadrille.

84 thoughts on “Alexander, or: Alexander”

Björn Rudberg (brudberg) March 23, 202122:05 Reply

My father who was forced to study Latin and Greek was very pleased when I opted for math… it was only much later when I found passion in words.
1. ben Alexander March 24, 202102:46 Reply
  
  My father told me that I should pursue the humanities, but I was a fool and did not listen 😦
  
  -David
koolkosherkitchen March 23, 202121:36 Reply

A quadrille in two limericks is cute, but most importantly, you drew a very apt contrast, David, and a wonderful tribute to your father. You do know, I trust, that Alexander became a popular Jewish name in honor of Alexander the Great.
Have a great day,
D
1. ben Alexander March 24, 202102:45 Reply
  
  Dolly, yes! I’ve even written about that:
  
  https://skepticskaddish.com/2021/01/24/wherefore-ben-alexander/
  
  Thank you ❤
  
  Yours,
  David
  1. koolkosherkitchen March 24, 202120:51 Reply
    
    Thank you for the link; I commented there.
    Back to the kitchen…
    Have a great day,
    D
    1. ben Alexander March 25, 202107:34 Reply
      
      💓
Lokesh Sastya March 23, 202120:43 Reply

You are a lucky son.
1. ben Alexander March 24, 202102:40 Reply
  
  Yes, I am. Thank you, Lokesh 🤍
  
  -David
Lokesh Sastya March 23, 202120:41 Reply

From Alexander we learn, we are fighter with strong desires & dreams.
On the other hand, Education set morals for our life. It give direction to our life.
Great job 👏🏻👏🏻💐💐
1. ben Alexander March 24, 202102:40 Reply
  
  🤍 Lokesh 🤍
Jane Dougherty March 23, 202118:52 Reply

That was quite an acrobatic feat!
1. ben Alexander March 23, 202118:54 Reply
  
  🤸 Jane 🤸
pvcann March 23, 202115:37 Reply

I love the sense certain/uncertainty that threads through this, but in a philosophical way, not sad or negative.
1. ben Alexander March 23, 202115:39 Reply
  
  Thanks so much, Paul
  
  💙
  David
merrildsmith March 23, 202115:14 Reply

A clever and wonderful tribute to your father–I like the connection in poetry and real life. I had to look him and Cut the Knot up–what a fantastic book/project/life’s work!
1. ben Alexander March 23, 202115:23 Reply
  
  Thanks, Merril. My father was a mathematician through and through – that’s what he most wanted to share with the world.
  
  ❤
  David