h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

That's a very sad story. I hope Mr Birmingsworth's demise will not be in vain.

I am certain that one day, his poems will be found... what a joyful day will that be for English literature!

In the meanwhile, all we can do is muse on what little we have...
"I'm looking at the sky
Birds fly, fly, fly
I'm sitting on a wall
But it's getting rather cold
So I might leave
[...]"

Maybe somebody else could complete it, in the same way the other Beatles finished off John Lennon's "Free As A Bird"...

Perhaps... but I don't know if I could take such a mighty task upon myself. How could I possibly know what this bright poet meant to write in the missing last line?
Nay, this calls for a greater mind than mine.




So, you wanna give it a try?

It would be an honour and a privilege, and an honour.



"I'm looking at the sky
Birds fly, fly, fly
I'm sitting on a wall
But it's getting rather cold
So I might leave
[...]"



...before I get piles?

It doesn't rhyme...

No, agreed, but perhaps Baldwin didn't want it to rhyme. Poetry doesn't have to rhyme, of course, but maybe I'm wrong, I don't really know, never having met the gentleman in question. I'll try again.

"I'm looking at the sky
Birds fly, fly, fly
I'm sitting on a wall
But it's getting rather cold
So I might leave
[...]"

I've something up my sleeve?

Hmm, this might work... I think. But who am I to have a say in this?

We shall never know what poor old Baldwin really wanted to write...

What if he meant to end the poem there, without another line?

Well, that's possible, of course.

"I'm looking at the sky
Birds fly, fly, fly
I'm sitting on a wall
But it's getting rather cold
So I might leave."

Maybe we should just leave it there. After all, who could take on the mantle of the late Mr Birmingsworth? Except his brother, of course. Maybe we could try and get in contact with him... he might know, or he might not, but it has to be worth a try.

Didn't you say they were separated at birth?

Yes, but they might have some kind of telepathic bond.

Cool... I didn't think about that!

Shall we write him a letter? What's the address?

Hang on... *checks address book*

Aldwin Birmingsworth, Esq.
11032 Viale Bolognese
Turin
Italy

I think I will write him a letter.

That's a good idea. He might not even realise the importance of his family ties.

I have sent the letter!

"Dear sir, blah blah blah, we would much appreciate any information you might have on your late brother, Mr. Baldwin Balthazar Birmingsworth, and especially his lost poetry. Yours sincerely, Lady Pennywhistle, head of the Baldwin Birmingswoth Appreciation Society."

I just hope he answers... do you think the "blah blah blah" was too much?

No, I think he'll probably appreciate the human touch. Maybe he knows who killed Agnetha Faltskog as well...

That's an album title actually... a CD I got some time ago.

But I might bring it over to the "murder" thread...

Yes, I think the truth needs to come out.

Oh, um, truth... *cough* We're not too good at that actually, I'm afraid...