Sunday, October 31, 2010

Aftermath


SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY
http://heyharriet.blogspot.com/

AFTERMATH

The rain has pelted down this year,
Allaying all our fears.
The water in Queensland's dams, they say,
Will last for twenty years!
But before that came ten years of drought;
The grass grew sparse and brown,
And little 'Japanese' gardens
Sprouted all over town.
At first I found them 'clinical',
For lush green lawns I was craving;
They seemed to say, too blatantly,
'Look! We're water-saving!'
But I have grown to like them;
They look so calm and neat.
And the shadows cast by rocks and plants
Make the picture quite complete.
We're making a 'Japanese' garden
In our little courtyard space.
Even with rain pouring down
They ameliorate the place.
*

----------------------------------------------------------


ALL EARS!

This-morning I had to run a session
For sinners needing a confession.
In my parish there's so much sin
I can scarcely fit them in!
A double-windowed booth is needed,
So two at a time can be acceded!
The village is rife with lust and crime
So listening takes up all my time!
An elderly gentleman came in first
Whispering something about his thirst!
It seems he'd been drinking to excess;
It relieved his spirit to confess.
He comes in often with this old story,
Hoping that he will 'go to glory'
If he admits he's out of line.
Then off he goes to drink more wine!
As he droned on with the same old list....
Brandy, whiskey, nothing missed....
I sensed a movement to my right
There, in the shadows, out of sight.
A pretty girl, all swathed in black
Came close and whispered in the crack.
And, my! That was a revelation!
She was in a tricky situation,
Involving the local Mayor no less!
She'd disgusting items to confess!
Also involved was the Mayor's son!
I can't tell you the terrible things she'd done!
Of course, I'm innocent as the day
But I had to take note of the things she'd say.
I frequently asked for repetition,
To reinforce the girl's contrition.
And, if I required an explanation,
I'd delve into her motivation.
'That's not quite clear' I'd whisper low;
'There's so much more I need to know.'
Other parishioners, there, were waiting,
And the poor young girl kept hesitating.
'Don't be afraid' I gently said;
Then 'Did you defile the marriage bed?'
Confession's normally over soon,
But we lingered until afternoon!
(The man admitting inebriation,
Gave-up, on viewing the situation.)
She went home cleansed, a holier soul,
Innocent, unblemished, whole.
But I said, for I know the ways of men,

'Come back, dear, if it happens again!'
*

11 comments:

Sylvia K said...

Well, you wrote some good ones today for sure! Love the shadow shot, but the last regarding confession wound up my day with a hell of a laugh! Thanks! Hope your week is going well, Brenda! Enjoy!

Sylvia

Cassie said...

Your Japanese garden makes a nice SHadowShot. I had to LOL at your All Ears poem. Are you the author of that poem too?? Very good. Have a great SSS!!

Margaret Gosden said...

I love the Japanese garden idea but be sure to put a
layer of plastic under the stones to prevent the weeds
from popping through! Those shrubs and boulders look great and cast wonderful shadows!

Kay L. Davies said...

Love the Japanese garden idea, Brenda. I have considered xeriscaping but we have wicked weeds which send seeds from the prairie into the town, and the nerve of the pests! They bring their own soil with them, cuddle down between some of those lovely little rocks, and grow 6 feet tall in a couple of months.

HOWever, I love the double-confessional, the contrite girl and the re-contrite drunk, and I can relate to both of them. LOL

Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

Hey Harriet said...

I'm quite fond of the Japanese style gardens but I'm sad at seeing all of the concrete in the city. Concrete where grass areas once were. Those changes were made during the drought time. And yes with all the rain over the last month our dams are well and truly full! They even had to open the flood gates a couple of weeks ago!

I love your shadow shot and good luck with your gardening :)

PS - The jacaranda trees here have been in bloom for about a month now. The time will come for your jacaranda trees. Soon I'm sure!

jabblog said...

Excellent, both of your poems. The confessional made me laugh though it reflects badly on the priest ;-)
Japanese gardens are an acquired taste, I think, but they do impart a sense of peace.

Magical Mystical Teacher said...

IN THE PEBBLY GARDEN

In the pebbly garden
Grow desert plants and such;
They need but drops of moisture—
A downpour? No, not much.

In the pebbly garden,
Dark shadows grow like weeds,
And yet for all their thriving,
They cast no noxious seeds!


© 2010 by Magical Mystical Teacher

Beverley Baird said...

What a lovely little garden! Your poem made me think of the adage "If life gives you lemons - make lemonade". You've turned drought into beautiful little gardens!

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

love your taste...
masterful job.

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

http://jingleyanqiu.wordpress.com/2010/10/31/halloween-party-at-jingle-poetry-monday-poetry-potluck-tomorrow/


Awards 4 u. xxx
Happy Belated Halloween to you. Our potluck is open, welcome linking,
Old poems, poems unrelated to Halloween are welcome.
Cheers!
You rock!

Margaret Gosden said...

And how does your little Japanese garden look today, I wonder!