Ogden Nash

Grandpa Is Ashamed

Grandpa Is Ashamed - meaning Summary

Delayed Promises Become Permanent

This two-line epigram compresses a wry lesson about disappointed expectation. A child quickly decodes the adult euphemism "Later, dear" as a polite postponement that actually means permanent refusal. The poem observes how language conceals avoidance and how even young people learn to read indirect speech. Its brevity highlights the brittle humor and the social reality behind comforting phrases that defer action indefinitely.

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A child need not be very clever To learn that "Later, dear" means "Never."

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