Mañana Mañana

Some choose to taste the fruits of life and though not always sweet, generally with time the soul is enriched. By contrast, others choose a more insular route..

Mañana Mañana, Moneyhill's resident ogre
settled into the townland some fifty years ago
a nasty, surly brute, who took trenchant root
ceasing the winds of progress to blow

Like a vulture looming large, he grabbed the opportunity
when a once prosperous farm, lacked leadership
for great uncle Bill, never considered a will
affording malevolent Mañana, his chance of courtship

Aware, the devil makes work for idle hands
eagerly, the ogre set about his contrived task
with no heir to the throne, he threw the dog a bone
preying on Bill's propensity, for the bottle and hip flask

Then sure as night follows day, Mañana got his foot well in
as things gradually fell into disrepair
and when Bill passed away, folk knew but dare not say
that now dishevelled farm, had a monster in it's lair

With hedges unkempt, pasture, thick in thistle
on land no longer farmed nor worked
next of kin came to the door, who hadn't been seen before
but that odious ogre, still, would not be usurped

Like a pack of hungry wolves, relatives, fought between themselves
as Mañana stoked their flames of greed
just as the Marquis de Sade, knew his bed was made
when he played upon his victim's wanton need

Legal battles wrangled on, only lawyers profiteering
while beleaguered fields cried out for cultivation
but if an ogre walks the ground, all that can be found
are stinging nettles, sharp blackthorn, neglect and degradation

And today it's still the case, fools blinded by indifference
Mañana Mañana, they cannot eradicate
for what they do not know, is pure as driven snow
and will evict an encamped ogre, consigning it to a lonely fate

You see, to harvest all through life yet never plant a seed
may invite a nasty ogre into ones' abode
but it will not frequent, where a child plays innocent
because in loving hope, a little seed was sowed!

( Mañana Mañana is Spanish for tomorrow or some other time )

Author's Note

Just my own interpretation of life's many meanderings....

Reviews

[Sheila Kline]

Your sage lesson says volumes, but I find your last two lines those that first speak to me. Where the innocence of a child is present, therein is where love is found, and with love comes compassion. The purity of innocence shutters the opportunity for greed and ill will to prevail. The little seed that is sowed with such hope does not allow one as the nasty ogre to take hold of that which is not made available for him to take. We must remember to treat others with kindness, and love so that hope may be as a wellspring for the soul! We reap that which we sow. And as one toils with virtues that reveal a spirit full of grace, then the effort expended will be worth the effort.

Your words that speak of it being the same today, as it has been throughout the ages, show the continual battle between good and evil, concern and lack of concern which leads to hate, and acts that shut out that which profits mankind.

Your ability to weave such lessons as this into a form that we may understand and remember, surely must encourage us to do that which is good!

I say in closing, "Be gone, bad ogre! I pray to not allow you to cast your shadow 'cross my land! Manana is depleted. Goodness shall be my guide this day!"

[Tom]

Thank you Sheila for your welcome and studious interpretation of my poem, and as ever, you hit the nail on the head !

[Einstein Noodle]

ah woe be to the family when the will is read ...no matter the outcome if the innocence and loving hope is gone missing there is such a war to be had ...and woe the family that gathers with the dead and there is no will ... the disbursement becomes dismemberment :O{ ...over the smallest of estates even ..far worse the more worth ...we have all seen it ..on the screen, in our friends and families as well ... sadly ... i could tell you the stories aplenty .. sad sad sad
E.

[Tom]

' the disbursement becomes dismemberment ' ....... that's it exactly E. Sums up the whole sorry saga to sobering effect !

[Lydia Shutter]

You are the best story teller, Tom! The promise of inheritance is quite the motivator for some. Yes, we wait till Mañana and put off things that might be important. Was he really the ogre though? Perhaps he knew that all those relatives were only interested in what he could leave them....and they did not care about him at all. Perhaps if they had taken an interest in him earlier, the farm would have been a much more valuable asset when he passed away. As always, Tom, you teach a life lesson in this one. LYdi**

[Tom]

Thank you Lydia for your always welcome review and keen perception of my story/poem, yes, greed is divisive trait which can does divide close family bonds and unions and sadly these are often irreconcilable!

[Sami Khalil]

What a story. Lessons to learn. Values to put in perspective. Indifference is not a good one. We should strive and make a difference for our families and others.Excellent eeee....:::))))

[Tom]

You speak the truth Sami & many thanks as always for your appreciation!

[Sami Khalil]

You are most welcome. ...::::))))

[jacob erin-cilberto]

well, those relatives who are just trying to take from another...that would make me an ogre too...

we can get pretty self-protective when we need to...especially dealing with other who are so self-indulgent...

it happens...

really well written story poem, Tom.

intriguing...and so well paced.

j.

[Tom]

Thank you Jacob for your insightful words !