Why Richard Cory Offed Himself Or One Reason to Take a Course in Probability

Why Richard Cory Offed Himself Or One Reason to Take a Course in Probability

by Jasper D. Memory (1935 - )

A hypochondriac at heart, he thought
(Though symptom free) he had a dire disease,
And after fruitless weeks of worry, sought
Some test to take to set his mind at ease.

He forthwith found one that would do the trick,
And accurate (at oh point nine) to tell
Those having the disease that they were sick,
And just the same, the well that they were well.

One crucial point he failed to note was this:
That of a hundred like him, only one
Had the disease, and this slip made him miss
The implication when the test was done

And positive! therefore, consumed with dread,
And now convinced his blackest fears were right
(By faulty logic fatally misled),
He shattered silence that calm summer night.