31 Jul Way Of Way 281

“Mary Had a Little Lamb…” begins a 19th century nursery rhyme familiar to most American children. A simple rhyme, yet unclear as to it’s meaning without an understanding of context and relationship.

Does Mary had a little lamb mean Mary had a pet lamb; Mary had a small vagina; Mary had sex with a lamb; or Mary ate a little lamb?

A father reciting the rhyme to children at bedtime implies Mary had a pet lamb.

Mary’s boyfriend having a beer and talking about girls with his buddies implies Mary had a small vagina.

Mary’s kinky friends might think Mary had sex with a lamb.

Mary’s dinner partner assumes Mary ate a little lamb.

Meaning is a function of context and relationship.

Changing the context or relationship and not changing the meaning can make the mundane hilarious.