Our Saintly Margaret

My sis and I laughed so much recently remembering our cousin. Never discussed her before but shared exactly the same memories and feelings. A write from the perspective of a put out child!

as a seven year old
i was pig sick when
the conversation switched
like a blade to the much
blessed Margaret

overhearing how our
second cousin was
smarter than smart
with her vastly superior
learning skills

everything she touched
with her precocious
digits turned to
gasps of delight
fueled astonishment

a precious child
long awaited
doted on by Baptist parents
a gift sent from the
good Lord himself

while I the eldest
of five arrived
like a tube train
in rush hour to young
unprotected parents

with their hands
too full while their
energy tanks ran on
almost empty
her visits left me cold

my eyes a shade
of flash green envy
don't mention her name
what a pain in an
ice-cream day

what a lollipop spoiler
what a sherbert lemon
without the stick
of black liquorice
she became

dib dib dab
what a bad girl
not liking the halo gleaming
Sunday best dress
Margaret

Reviews

[W. Barrett Munn]

Absolutely magnificent! This is everything a lyric poem should be. I subscribe (for free) to the Rattle daily poem and this one of yours would fit in perfectly with all of those they paid to use. You really, truly outdid yourself here, Chris.

Twelve thumbs up!

[Chris Shaw]

Aw thank you for that really encouraging review WBM. This poem came about after a conversation with my sis. We hadn't mentioned Margaret for years and yet we both felt the same about her :) I can laugh now but as a seven year old she was not flavour of the month. Pleased you liked this one.

Chris

[Neville]

I imagine every family has at least one saintly Margaret ....... I know we did, still do in fact .. ta for taking me back to the days when steam was king o the rails Chris & I still ran on em' :)

[Chris Shaw]

Ah steam trains. Did I ever tell you I was a train spotter. Frequently got lost in a cloud of steam as my brother and I stood on Rough down bridge waiting for the Royal Scott's Grey or Lord Kitchener to fly past on the Midlabd rail track from Euston. Those were the days :) As for Margaret, haven't seen her for years :) Thank you Neville.

Chris

[Stuart Munro]

Lovely poem , I loved sherbet dabs

[Chris Shaw]

So did I. Yum yum :) Thanks Stuart.

Chris

[Stuart Munro]

Lol, those lovely corner sweet shop days jamboree bags , black jacks

[Chris Shaw]

Ah black jacks and fruit salads. What a mess black jacks made of your teeth and tongue. We didn't care a bit :)

[Stuart Munro]

Lol, the sweet shops magic places , the mags , beano and dandy , and fabulous pop mag , colour pictures on my bedroom wall of the sixties bands

[Chris Shaw]

Bunty, Judy and the Astoria, Finsbury Park where I went to see the Beatles :)

[Alan S Jeeves]

Already read this 10 days ago. Just got around to talking to you about it Chris. Poison dwarf ?
I wondered if Margaret could juggle also!

Kind regards, Alan

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Alan for your thoughts. You made me smile. Knowing her, she probably juggled to perfection too :)

Chris

[Ranger Kessel]

Very nice reflection. Well written it paints a lovely picture. Thanks for posting it

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Ranger. Pleased you enjoyed.

Chris

[Ranger Kessel]

Youre welome

[William Michael Reeves]

My parents had me young so I can relate to the rush into parenthood. You need to get a T-shirt made that says 'lollipop spoiler' on it. Love it!!

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Bill. Now that T shirt, what a good idea :) Pleased you enjoyed the fun.

Chris

[John the Baptist]

Reading between the lines, i get the impression Margaret's parents might have had reasons for waiting a long time to have a child. When they finally got one, she became the center of the universe for them. The attention she got could understandably make others resentful. No problem, unless of course it extended past age forty.

[Chris Shaw]

Ha.I like your response John. The saintly Margaret had long been forgotten by the age of 40 :) Thanks for stopping by.

Chris

[Cyprian Van Dyke]

I can connect with so many feelings from your words about Margaret. This poem is so well written. Whether you are the child or seeing the child go through such things, so many feelings are involved. Powerful write, Chris, tyfs

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much Cyprian for your very encouraging review. All the best to you.

Chris

[red93]

Excellent Chris - so real and so true to life. We have friends who used to dote on their first Child Sophie - always better than everyone else's children - till she dropped out of University and had a miscarriage that is !

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Tony. Appreciate your share here. Hope you are managing OK.

Chris

[red93]

After the Night Bus Chris, this is a considerable improvement put it that way - and thank the Lord for the Royal Mail Pension !

[Chris Shaw]

Good when there is something to be thankful for. :)

[Lathen Griffiths]

Absolutely brilliant Chris … I know that feeling all too well x


Lathe

[Chris Shaw]

Hello Lathe. Good to see you. Yeah, we all know someone like the halo gleaming can do no wrong Margaret :))) Pleased you enjoyed this fun write.


Chris