"Providence", said a Pig !

A salutary tale !

The past summer had been long and incongruously hot

still I played every game, though my score remained nought 
yet despite that empty feeling,  like when you've lost the lot,
I remained steadfast in the hope of one final, productive shot!

But with the very last match, providence brought
those longed for scoring runs, so eagerly sought
then after, straight to an ale house caring not a jot
of my betrothed elsewhere waiting, like the lady of Shallot!

As that previous day, a fine wedding ring I had bought
hand crafted and embossed with a jewel, expertly wrought 
my intention to propose at a well known lover's spot,
a place where each evening, we would meet at precisely 8 o'clock!

But too much booze and bravado, mixed together in a pot 
are quite often the undoing of many an honorable plot,
so later that night, swaggering down a road I knew not
I tripped over my boot lace, which had not been tied taut!

Tumbling head first into a ditch,  like a clumsy clot
I lay there cursing, precarious and distraught,
then a passing pig sat down beside me, in the grime and the grot
and with a look of disdain,  it spoke to me rather snooty and snot!

"Providence can elevate a man, or reduce him to squalor and rot
just as a drunken fool's efforts, invariably amount to naught 
and no lady of principal would marry a man who can't tie a knot,
so if I were you, I'd give these matters some pragmatic thought!"

Then it slowly got up and made off in a pompous, prancing trot, 
leaving me to mull over a lesson,  sagaciously taught
and since this immodest encounter, defiling and fraught
to this very day the wise counsel of the Pig, I have never forgot !

 

Reviews

[Einstein Noodle]

ahahahaha i love it Tom ..what a marvelous tale of men caught in a swale ... to the pig all hail .. tho a drunkard may rale ... this hero didn't fail ... to the pig's wisdom avail ... your poem's experience lifts me ol' heart .. there is hope for us fools after all and the ol' dog can learn ... fine story telling .. and very fine rhyme scheme success ... glad I found this one sir!
E.

[Tom]

Coolio, oink, oink, and who denies not just the brilliance, but the sufferance of the much maligned Pig!

[Einstein Noodle]

indeed ... max malignement :)))))))))))

[DIVYA]

You have such flair for good rhyme. I enjoyed the story as it unfolded. Loved the pig's appearance in the story. It was entertaining and funny. I am sorry the event did not turn out as planned but it made for a very nice read. :)

[Tom]

Thank you once more Diyva, yes indeed, a fun piece with a little moral twist in its ' curly ' tale !

[DIVYA]

You are welcome Tom. It was a tale much appreciated and enjoyed.

[Dream Weaver]

I see that you incorporate sports into quite a few of your writings.
This one caught my eye simply by reading the title. As I read on the
enjoyment level rose with each stanza, bravo "Providence" said a pig!
Nicely done.

[Tom]

Thank you Dream Weaver!

[Woody]

a delicious read, I assure you. I love this no end. and thanks for showing me that there's more to pigs than bacon.

[Tom]

You're welcome and yes indeed, the much maligned pig deserves much more credit than it normally receives !

[Frieda P]

You always tell such an interesting story in your poetry, and make it flow so fluidly in rhyme to boot! That little piggy had moxy, perhaps you should have taught him to play cricket...a game he'd never forget being on your team coach, you made the shot and scored here!

[Tom]

Thank you so much my lovely Frieda, I do try to emulate you but I always fall well short!

[Frieda P]

No way coach, don't sell yourself short, I can't rhyme and hardly tell a story the way you do....you win hands down!

[Tom]

Such praise from one so gifted is truly humblesome, thanks again Frieda P.......for perfect poetess and team player!

[icelandicblue]

Choices well made make the future a better place. Use your power wisely. Great rhyming and moral of the story.

[Tom]

Indeed so true Ice'blue and thank you for reading & your insightful thoughts!

[Blue]

Wow. Brilliant rhyme scheme! That's truly difficult to pull off, Tom... The mere idea of me writing in such pattern nauseates me. But you did very well on storytelling and on keeping me entertained. A pig! I haven't thought of letting that creature roam around the verses of my poetry! But it's a good thing you did, and it's such a smart thing do to, considering the value it taught. I notice your poems have animals in them. Now I know where your wisdom stems from.

[Tom]

Yes indeed Arzel (blue), we all can be inspired and learn so much from mother nature's wise counsel and thank you for reading & reviewing so appropriately!

[Lydia Shutter]

Smiling here......you are such a wonderful story teller, Tom! To think a pig could teach such an insightful and wise lesson! Rolling in the sty made for an omniscient pig...imagine that! :) Your rhythm and rhyme is flawless. I enjoyed this tremendously. Lydi**

[Tom]

Thank you Lydia & a happy Xmas to you and your family !

[Daisie Vergara (Dhaye)]

Ah ah, this is so brilliant, Tom. Glad someone has learned something from a pig!
Love the extra-ordinary rhyming of this. Keep it up, man.

[Tom]

Warmest thanks to you Dhaye !

[Daisie Vergara (Dhaye)]

You're always welcome, Tom.

[TL Boehm]

first one million points for the ot end rhyme! I could never think of enough end rhyming words to carry a poem that far but you did with humor and a good little lesson. Impressive! And it made me chuckle.

[Tom]

Thank you very much indeed TL !