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Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Epistle poem challenge from Ella

Yesterday I accepted Grace's invitation to write a rondeau, and today, at the writers' group, Imaginary Garden with Real Toads, Ella has challenged us to produce an epistle poem.

I immediately thought of epistles as the admonishing finger of St. Paul directing everyone from the Romans to the Hebrews how to live their lives, even though I've known since early Sunday School the word epistle merely means letter.

With apologies to the Pauline school of ecclesiastical thought, I took my own epistle in a different direction: a politician asking his or her busy constituents to answer a list of apparently pointless questions.


AMBITIONS AND DREAMS

To whom it may concern, she read,
And “whom” of course, was she —
“Please answer everything in red,
“Return A.S.A.P.”

A.S.A.P. for me, she said
Just may not be the same
It is for you, or Bill, or Fred
Or others I could name.

I have a job and kids and school,
I have Pilates class,
I have two pets, I have a pool,
I have to cut the grass.

I have to clean the house and car
And wash the windows, too,
I have to keep my golf at par,
Volunteer at the zoo.

When do you think I’m gonna find
The time to fill out reams
Of questions you have had designed
For your political dreams?

I just don’t care if you are mayor
Or chieftain, pope or king,
If you are boss of anywhere
Unless you do one thing:

Find someone who will do my work,
And watch my children, too,
Then I can do just what I want —
Volunteer at the zoo.



© Photos by: Kay Davies, Maria Davies, Gloria Johal and Richard Schear

14 comments:

Mystic_Mom said...

I love this poem Kay! I want to volunteer at the Zoo too!

Sherry Blue Sky said...

I love your poem and the photos on your blog. My Jasmine looks exactly like Lindy........

Liz Rice-Sosne said...

A real delight!

Mr Puddy said...

Nice Poem Kay, and me and my mom love the tuxie panda photo..so cute !!
xoxo

Ella said...

I love the reality and escape of your poem! Well Done~ I love your photos, too~ :D

diane b said...

Very clever and great shots to go with it.

S K Ditta said...

I have pictures in my collection of a woman who works in Australia, and took care of Koala bears from when they were itsy-bitsy to their grown-up size. You can see the kindness and peace on her face, rubbing noses with one the babies. The Giant Panda would always be a great reason to volunteer at the zoo. Thanks for the pictures, and poetic expressions.

Anonymous said...

a very dickinson take on the prompt. witty and smooth with a twist.
excellent!
also - love the idea of your blog! go go go!

SquirrelQueen said...

Kay, you have outdone yourself. I love your epistle poem.

As I was reading this it reminded me a little of my own hectic life. Now if I can just find someone to cut the grass and clean the house I'm off to the zoo.

Anonymous said...

I love the honesty of it and the fun little beat it had throughout.

Jenn Jilks said...

I love it! I loathe yet another election here in Ontary-ary-ary-i-o. But we will live through this, too!
Good to look at it with a sense of meter and laughter!

Kerry O'Connor said...

This is an absolute delight.. and a strong message hides beneath the frivolous tone. Too few women have time for their own uplifting endeavours.

Dimple said...

Well, Kay, you may not have done much with poetry since 1980 (I read that claim in your rondeau post) but I think you are a poet! Love the last stanza of your epistle--who wouldn't want to volunteer at the zoo?!

Laurie Kolp said...

lol- I really enjoyed this... in ways I can relate although not in a snobbish way... just being too busy with three kids. Great ending!