Life after accountancy

I dined on wine and lettuce leaves

and all the surfeit money brings.

I swam with sharks and ate them up,

Oh, how I filled my selfish cup;

And every corner that I trod

some little trinket I partook;

Oft times for sport, (though most

for gain) and never let the rumour

start that I was empty in my heart.

But sinners turn, or so they say,

from hunter to suppliant prey;

and thus on Sundays I aspire

to cast away all of desire;

Give back with equal amplitude,

and trust a prayer may just suffice,

(though quietly I say amen twice)

You know, a kind of just in case

before I leave this lovely place.

Reviews

[R J Askew]

Of course I had to read this one to the bottom line. Love the whimsy of the title. And also the uppettyness of verse 1. The moral shift in verse 2 is the most important bit though, with the back firmly turned on more youthful ambition, indulgence, success etc and the focus shifting to a moral sort of accounting where money and numbers do not feature. The first verse serves to accentuate the second perfectly - with a flawless gear change.

[Woody]

brilliant as usual, Beccy. I suppose there will come a time when everyone will be accountable for their actions.
I like the "just in case"

[Olivia]

This poem has very good rhythm to it. I like the image this poem creates in my head. Beautiful and insightful. Well done!

[....................]

There is more to life than material wealth; our spiritual parts need nourishment as well. I love your approach to this subject that many of us deal with at some point in our lives. I spent more than twenty years piling on work (sometimes two or three jobs at a time) so that I could 'afford' the things I wanted in life when really, what I really needed was always within reach without having to destroy my inner self in the process. Thanks for sharing!

[Ken Simm.]

Wit and as Ron says whimsy. Everything this poem should have it has in abundance. And its well written. What more can the reader ask for?

[SleeplessVolcano]

Aaahhhhh......a diet of too much lettuce and wine is bound to leave our hearts empty....I love the journey this poem created......self-reflection.....revelation........thanks for sharing!

[W.k.kortas]

If one has learned anything from Dragons' Den, it's always hedge your bets. There is a certain musicality to this piece that belies the wickedness that plays around the edges. This is just wonderful top-shelf stuff.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

we will have to account for our actions sooner or later...maybe an amen or two would be wise...

[h d e rushin]

My "happyless" and your "life after Accountability" are both serious attempts at showing
that the greater power is not in us and not in our actions, but in our belief that God
is unchangeable and non-flexible in his or her dealings with us. And no matter
how extraordinarily accurate or vivid our recall "what will await us, Davey Jones or home"
Robert Hayden wrote. It pains me to think that all the things I've amassed over the years,
will not follow me to eternity..

well done beccy.....dana