"Anthropological Thoughts"

Am down to my last paper now..."Anthropology and the Human Condition". Was going through some of the videos on IVLE for revision, and one of the Poems that a missionary and ethnographer friend of William Rivers by the name of C. E. Fox wrote was really amusing. Shed some insights to how we'd view (as outsiders), kinship patterns of others populations and communities as strange. Enjoy! =)

Anthropological Thoughts

The Doctor took his book in hand
His pen was in his finger
His foot was on a foreign strand -
But there I need not linger.

"Now how," said he, "if I may ask
About your cousin's mother
Would she attempt the simple task
Of speaking of your brother?

Ah yes, just so, but if she were
Your mother's uncle's sister
How would your cousin's sister's aunt
Address her when she kissed her?

Yes, that's a point I meant to add:
Your nephew's cousin's father
If he an uncle's sister had
(And neither of the two were mad)
Would he respect her rather?

But if your father's cousin's niece
(His brother's cousin's mother)
Were married to your father's son
Would he be called your brother?

Indeed, now this if it be so
Is very interesting
And really should not be I think
The subject of your jesting.

For if your father's mother's son
Were nephew to your mother
I really cannot understand
Why she should call him "brother."

Alas, Alas, for just before
The doctor's mind could grip her
A shout of laughter issued from
The Cabin of the Skipper.

(Haddon Envelope 12051)