Finnigals wake

Total and utter nonsense :))

The sky was dressed appropriately
in shades of charcoal grey
this adding to the sombre mood
on that cold December day
where a gathering of black clad folk
stood silent, one and all
oblivious to the weather Gods
as the rain began to fall.
This dancing of the aged flags
dripping from the slate
of the lichen covered ancient roof
of St Mary's oak Lych gate,
til all the gathered soaked to skin
and cold to marrows core,
then a voice unknown startled all
raised every eye from floor,

...................VICAR.................

"Excuse me but I think you've made
a terrible mistake
the only service here today
is the worshipping of cake,
that Mrs Pye from the WI
does annually bake
this offered to our Lord on high
a slice for him to take"

A murmur spread through black clad folk
then a voice from them was heard,
"We're meant to bury here today
Albert Finnigal the third,
so if not here pray could you tell
the place where he will rest
it'd be a shame to miss his burial
now we're dressed in Sunday best"

.......................VICAR.................

"I'm not an A-Z of death,
burials and the like
I'm not an information board
so the lot of you take a hike,
I need you outta here right now
pronto, go on shoo"
with that he flounced towards the church
and through the doors he flew"

A moment's silence then befell
the black clad, soaked through crew
til a barely audible female voice
said "I know what we will do,
let's go to the pub just down the road
to celebrate his life
I'm sure the family will not mind
as I'm a mate of Alberts wife"

So off they traipsed, wringing wet
to toast and stories tell
'bout Albert Finnigals colourful life and
his death in a wishing well,
where he drowned when throwing pennies in
one night whilst walking home
after an illicit tryst with two prostitutes,
sisters Lily and Courtenay Frome.

Author's Note

For those of you outside of the UK the WI, women's institute, are known for their love of baking, jam making and other things no doubt.
Many folk assume them to be elderly ladies with purple hair who's choice of perfume is eau de Lavender. I would imagine this not the case

Reviews

[D]

There are certain cultures in India where there is celebratory music during a funeral procession and in some villages, people even dance. More so, if the deceased is elderly and has passed after living a full life. This poem offers a very positive feeling to the reader and endorses the celebration of life, even in death. Albert Finnigals died doing what he loved to do and if it was whoring and drinking then so be it. And all those who genuinely loved the man would be happy for him. It certainly sounds better to pay him a tribute in settings he loved than in dark robes, soaked cold in a dreary church service.

A poem I enjoyed and related to, absolutely.

[Gee]

Thank you Diya, hope the weather has coooled

[Gee]

Thank you Divya

[Marie]

Aaaaawwww! I just love this finely inked narrative poem. You tell the story sooooooo well, Gee and with a delightful sense of humour. I could see the Vicar in my mind as I read and how unco-operative he was when asked a simple question. I could see the black clad mourners in shock at being in the wrong place, all dripping wet, cold and possibly hungry, but no slice of cake made by the WI for them! I adore the ending to the story! It truly is the icing on the poetic cake, Gee! I had to laugh as I read how poor Albert died and I am sure he died happy with a great big smile on his face after his fateful tryst! Wonderful work, Gee! Thank you so very much for sharing...

[Gee]

Thank you Marie

[Marie]

Most welcome always, Gee...

[Neville]

A tale told terribly well if you don't mind me saying .. and then some .. Neville :)

[Gee]

Thanks. I still feel that rhyming verse is viewed by many as "the poor man's" poetry.

[Neville]

in which case, they know not what they say ..

[Dave Brown]

it would be a blessing to write as well as this

[Gee]

You aint to shabby yourself Dave.
Appreciate you dropping in.
Hope you are keeping well

[Pete]

good tale. certainly off the beaten path. not a bad way to go. thanks for the entertaining read.

[Gee]

A belated thank you Pete. Hope you are well

[Arundass TP]

I love this meaning ful long poem. Interesting read. Keep it up 🙂

[Gee]

Hardly, but thank you for suffering

[Thomas W Case]

Powerful and poignant. Great work.

[Gee]

Thanks Thomas

[Marvin Thomas Cox-Flynn..]

Gee (is it, or could it be, James Gee of AP???),

And here resides, yet, another excellent example of our common Humanity's hypocrisy that all too often does reside side by side of all that men do present to the world as to whom they are and to what they believe that does, sadly, stand as evidence to diametrically opposed contrary ... Well penned and more directly to that point that so many Human Beings wish were not the overly true truth of their realities of existence ... Flawed and faulted is our fate of a certain date with death ... And ... None too soon ... Life dost deserve the days of better men, who whist not spend their time reveling in those days of when life was not worth the living, but rather look forward to futures bright and enlivening, filled to brim and glasses stem to hope of that which should and shall be better for all Humanity's Mankind, without sordid details of events that darken and haunt men's minds ... Wonderfully written and expressed ...!

Marvin Thomas Cox-Flynn de Graham

[Gee]

Thank you Marvin. Appreciate your in depth comments