The Brothers Birtles


Do you realise that this railway bench

Is totally balanced

Every part has a job to do

And if it fails then chaos might follow

It is what I call the balance of mathematics

Quoting in practical terms it applies to the balance method

This is a fundamental rule stating that any operation

That is applied to one side of an equation

Must be applied to the other

Otherwise the balance

Will be be compromised


Where is our sister Jenny

She is in the station buffet

Having a cup of tea


When she returns ask her to sit next to you

I will move to the far end of this station bench

As you know our sister is very feminine and slight

But her weight added to yours will exceed my weight

In theory the balance of this bench might fail

And we would all end up looking foolish in the dust

But this will not happen because of this fundamental rule