Can you draw a picture on the blackboard when somebody doesn't want you to? asked the rooster promptly. Yes, answered Kenny, if you write them a very nice poem. What is an only goat? A lonely goat, answered Kenny. The rooster shut one eye and looked at Kenny. Can you hear a horse on the roof? he asked. If you know how to listen in the night, said Kenny. Can you fix a broken promise? Yes, said Kenny, if it only looks broken, but really isn't.

Can you draw a picture on the blackboard when somebody doesn't want you to? asked the rooster promptly. Yes, answered Kenny, if you write them a very nice poem. What is an only goat? A lonely goat, answered Kenny. The rooster shut one eye and looked at Kenny. Can you hear a horse on the roof? he asked. If you know how to listen in the night, said Kenny. Can you fix a broken promise? Yes, said Kenny, if it only looks broken, but really isn't.

📖 Maurice Sendak

🌍 American  |  👨‍💼 Artist

🎂 June 10, 1928  –  ⚰️ May 8, 2012
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This whimsical conversation between the rooster and Kenny illuminates the power of perspective, creativity, and emotional intelligence in navigating life's subtle dilemmas. Each question posed by the rooster touches on a seemingly impossible scenario or paradox, which Kenny responds to not with mere literal answers but with imaginative and insightful solutions. Writing a nice poem to draw a picture against someone's opposition highlights the power of kindness and creative negotiation. Identifying an "only goat" as a "lonely goat" touches on language play and perhaps conveys the feeling of solitude, warming it with a touch of empathy. Listening carefully to hear a horse on the roof encourages attentiveness and the ability to perceive beyond the obvious, while fixing a "broken promise" that is only superficially cracked reveals the nuanced understanding that not all wounds or breaches are irreparable. This exchange feels like a lesson in approaching problems with optimism, creativity, and a belief that appearances can be transformed if we deliberate wisely. The narrative style—a playful interrogation by the rooster and thoughtful answers from Kenny—adds a gentle charm, inviting readers to think deeply but with a light heart. In a broader philosophical sense, it reminds us that many challenges we face depend not only on external realities but on how we interpret, respond, and creatively reimagine them. Thus, it calls for a thoughtful blend of imagination, empathy, and perceptive listening as vital tools for life.

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