HEREDITY

At a family conclave before I was born

My six-times great grandfather argued strongly

That his nose would help me make my way in the world

And would be needed to mitigate the results

Of his sister Edith's squinty grey eyes

And his brother Morris' appalling sense of humor.

Some cousins suggested the rights to my nose

Be traded to the other side of my heritage --

Meeting on the other side of the room and pretending

Not to be listening -- for the ability, say,

To do lightning calculations

Or eyes able to see more colors than most.

The negotiations were complex but I have a nose

That could pass as a native anywhere south of the Bug River;

I cannot add columns of figures at a glance;

As for colors, there are several shades of blue and green

Which all look exactly the same to me.