Only age changes on the Sabbath

Just words for words sake.

Tomorrow, Sunday, I shall wear my starched, pristine white shirt,
then knot around its slightly frayed collar my black, faded funeral tie.
Over this a charcoal grey " occassion" suit will be worn,
then black, timeless brogues slipped on to complete the ensemble.
At 09:52 I will leave home and walk down to the junction of Station Road,
here I will turn right and continue, slightly uphill, for half a mile,
until the turn into Church Road reached at 10:08.
At 10:10 on the dot, Mavis and Joe Staniforth will arrive,
Mavis dressed in a lavender twin set, white blouse,
a magnolia coloured cloche style hat and lilac shoes.
Joe, dress wise, will pretty much mirror me barring the shoes,
his being a recently purchased, brown, derby style pair,
these a preference of his going back near 60 years,
his first pair brought at the age of 16.
After exchanging pleasantries we will walk, three abreast,
the short distance to God's house,
passing through the recently refurbished Lychgate to enter its grounds.
Father Simmonds will as always, come rain or shine, be waiting,
greeting each and every one of us with a smile,
a warm handshake and idle chit chat,
this being his way for the past 40 years,
and God willing, will be so for as long as his body holds breath.
Inside the church pew places earned by right of attendance are taken up,
fellow worshippers greeted with squeezed hands and kissed cheeks.
The echo of the church's aged, oak doors closing stills all tongues,
the only sound now being that of footsteps echoing off time worn flags
as Father Simmonds briskly makes his way forward.
After ascending the 5 steps into an ornately carved pulpit, he starts....

" may God bless you all, today, tomorrow, always....

Author's Note

There is no purpose to this, I'm at a loose end so decided to have a wee write.

Reviews

[Davidgeo]

You should convert this into a story. It's lovely as it is but I think you could expound on the emotion and make it more beautiful with a little extra flesh on it. I'm not taking into consideration the emotional toll of what this write means to you of course, I'm just saying things from a distance. You always write good things regardless... I hope you know that I'd review you more if I didn't always carry a stigma with me according to your friends here. This one's old enough for no one to notice.

Hope all is well.

[Gee]

Hi Dave, no emotional attachment at all. I haven't a religious bone in my body, just got to thinking about, when as a kid, I used to watch all of these "old" folk, donned in their Sunday best, traipsing up the hill to the village church come hell or high water, and used to wonder as to why. Looking back I kinda admire them as with all of the s**t that goes on they still had an unwavering faith in what to me is a story written by an early day JKR.
As for the reviewing, you drop in whenever you like, I enjoy reading your thoughts and having the odd chit chat and if others don't like it then that really isn't my problem or yours :) I'd much prefer your honesty than someone visiting with the sole intention of seeking a return review by gushing all over my simple fayre.
Thanks for taking the time to have a read, ALWAYS appreciated.

[Davidgeo]

They do love to get all dolled up for those weekly ceremonies. There is a certain austerity based beauty in religion, all the religions. I find it to be a waste of time to participate in but it's hard to deny being interested in the whole process and form from a distance.

And thanks for the other thing, I appreciate that. I've actively tried to be less confrontational with most people but I'm afraid my early jerkish a*****e instincts have left a permanent mark as far as this site is concerned. I'm glad you see how little that really matters. I'll try and drop in more often now that I know that.

Thanks man, I appreciate that.

[Gee]

Not a problem. You take care :)

[Beccy]

'Aye. Not a believer myself but admire those that can blindly believe in something never proved........ '

That's interesting. I wonder, if I didn't believe in air, whether I'd stop breathing.... Just a thought. :))

Aside from that, this is a really spot on description of Sunday best foot forward; though I suspect our vicatr is a tad more trendy that Father Simmonds.

Beccy.

[Gee]

Hi Beccy, I paint the picture from childhood memories and the folk in question, although ancient in my young boy eyes, were probably only the age that I am now, 57 externally, 12 in my head :)
Thank you for dropping in.
Hope you and the ever growing young fella are well and Santa is going to bring him a sack full of his wishes.
Take care

[gram linski]

and then you all fucked off to the pub, and some spouses were battered in the remains of this poem, lol s**t, hope this wasn't a serious number,

[Gee]

Serious, not at all. Just my memories of watching, what seemed like ancient folk at the time, going through the same Sunday routine in the same clothes week after week.
Looking back they were probably the age I am now.
Hope all is well with you in the polar North Gram.

[PatrickPink]

You've done a great job of emphasizing the mundane nature of the trip, particularly all the timestamps give the reader a keen sense of a repeated routine! Your attention to detail is meticulous as well, each individual's appearance is really well fleshed out! I do think you could put even more emphasis on these effects by using commas to create even more pauses in your descriptions, but a great job either way!

[Gee]

Cheers....

[Papaya]

I could totally see this whole scene unfolding. A scene which can be plucked out of your neighbourhood and transplanted easily into any other. It's comforting in a way to know that. That people are people.
No matter where you go.

[Gee]

Aye. Not a believer myself but admire those that can blindly believe in something never proved.......well, don't think it has been.
Hope all is well in Ameri....oops, Canada :))))

[Papaya]

:) i'm not either and nice save on the Canada part.
nothing against my American friends but everyone knows Canada is the BEST

[emmajoy]

' The echo of the church's aged, oak doors closing, stills all tongues, the only sound heard now being that of footsteps echoing off time worn flags as Father Simmonds briskly makes his way .. '

How familiar this post describes your visit, yet dressed in your own gently defined wording. No dramatics, no frills but so full of sincerity and care, I felt part of the scene. A super charming, generous piece of writing, Gee.

[Gee]

Good afternoon Emmaj, hope you haven't been swept away and you are swell.
Thank you

[emmajoy]

You're welcome and, yes, I am. :)

[Vivian Gospel]

You sound like a believer. Tell me where can i find hope?

[Gee]

Not a believer, get to grips with life :)

[Vivian Gospel]

Put me in a wrestler's ring.

[Gee]

In or up....

[Vivian Gospel]

Either way I will win the fight gee... i will pursue the goal i had been seeking!

[angel]

Ha, the same thing exactly happened to me this morning. That's when NEVER LOST OR ALONE came out of my keyboard.
Pretty good for an 'oh, well, guess I'll write summat,' piece!
I meant yours--this one--not mine!)

[Gee]

Good morning, I shall read that shortly.
Hope all is well with you, thank you Angel

[angel]

You're welcome, sir! And yes, I am OK. Sort of cried on the 9th, you know, but that was partly my sense of loss and partly the Brandy Alexanders...Hi, there, Mrs. Gee, I see you there, too!

[Gee]

Mrs Gee plumbers as does my child and pooch. This quiet time is the only time I ever write, between 5 and 8, usually quickly before work,
which probably accounts for the standard posted.
Am just gonna get cup number 3 of coffee, to be dipped through a straw as had a chunk of my tongue removed Tuesday due to cell irregularities, sore !!!

[Gee]

Slumbers......sipped.....ducking pells pecker

[angel]

Ooooh, OK. I getcha. I am also alone, the only one not asleep.It's nearly 3 a.m here.
Did you say Mrs. Gee does plumbers?
My sympathies, man. But who can resist the seductive PLUMBER'S CRACK?
I assume your plumbers have them too.
Irregular cells, huh. I had some once; in an intimate spot, though, not my tongue. They were cervical cells. Turned out OK. Hope the same for you, my friend.

[Gee]

Thank you....

[barleygirl]

I love your profile picture and this poem. I've never been one to attend church, but I come from a family exactly this regimented about most everything, including church. The thing your poem conveys most strongly (besides you being anal retentive about details) . . . it's the way constancy of habit creates one of life's most satisfying & consistent rewards. I used to crave change but now I love things that last (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Gee]

Lol, anally retentive, LOVE IT :))
Thank you Margie, hope you and the canine crew are well.

[barleygirl]

This morning I embark on my first full day with a modern internet connection & a new computer! Wow! This is so fast & reliable, it's like having the internet for the first time again! *smile* I will be more interactional now. Before, I would forget where I was going all the time, my computer took so long! Glad to be back among the connected!

[Dhara_Ditzy Kat]

Father Simmonds prays wisely. It’s indeed a blessing to have these rituals, the fellowship and the company of those who we have known like forever. These are so ingrained into us, they become like the very air we breathe. We pray these blessings never run out and last us today, tomorrow and always.

[Gee]

Thank you...

[Dhara_Ditzy Kat]

You’re welcome:)