Backlash

The publisher of Roald Dahl’s books

Thought changes should be made

To make the books “inclusive,”

But attention has been paid

 

With many writers speaking out

To criticize the plan

(Despite the fact that Dahl’s ideas

Made many not a fan).

 

An example that I read of

Would remove the use of “fat”

If a character was overweight –

Now what’s the use of that?

 

What they’d substitute, I wonder;

Still, most children are aware

Of dishonesty in writing

As in life, which isn’t fair.

 

Yet another word replacement

Would be “parent” used instead

Of both “mother” and of “father,”

If one’s gone – divorced or dead.

 

Or if someone has two mommies

Or two dads, perhaps they mused

That by substituting “parent,”

Kids would not then be confused.

 

Still, a writer’s words are sacred

And reflective of the times,

Therefore, posthumous replacements

Feel like literary crimes.

 

Now the publisher’s decided,

After unexpected flak,

There’ll be two competing versions,

Which, to me, seems out of whack.