Irish Spring

Men profess to be lovers of music, but for the most part they give no evidence in their opinions and lives that they have heard it. - Thoreau

cleanse me

both body and soul

like those immutable, refreshing days of old

work me into a rich, emerald lather

'tis what i want and what i'd rather

infuse me with a divine melody

one that will leave me unsullied for eternity

play an unfeigned, joyous piccolo

so my faith and froth know which to go

fiddle me some heavenly bubbles

scour away all of my soiled troubles

ply the taut strings of a far off sovereign realm

with a strapping, young captain boldly at the helm

dance me a joyous, sacred jig

as i bend down at the well and take another swig

tap eden's feet so it never stops

tie it on a rope so it never drops

wash me in that unmistakable brogue

the one that's forever rich and always in vogue

let your song bathe my weary feet

so i can share it with everyone i meet

rinse a tear to my tired eye

before i lay down to be sanitized and die

blow the pipes with your best, enduring breath

so the devil never showers me with lyes and death

lather me up in old dublin

along with all my sudsy kin

it dampens doubt and launders sin no matter what i do

it's made for the faithful but i like it too

douse away all my grimy, grubby gripes

replacing them with everlasting, double-deodorant stripes

angels visit 'cuz they know just what to bring

scrubbing my spirit with an irish spring

they exfoliate me with a bar of hope

and i don't just mean the soap

Author's Note

"When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest." - Thoreau

Reviews

[barleygirl]

This is one of your best! I love the way you swirl so many evocative bathtub-bathing actions, fully entwined with all the other musical possibilities as to bathing in everyday life. This goes beyond an extended metaphor . . . two halves of your meaning do a slick tango thru-out! I love the way your poem delves deeper & deeper into sensory hints of Irish, corresponding to this particular soap as strongly scented & unmistakable, when you catch a whiff of it (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Pete]

lol. that old commercial popped into my head and was thinking about soap and how it relates to so many things of life in general. plus i can't get that irish song out of my head. thanks for sharing thoughts as always my friend ... :)

[Cyprian Van Dyke]

I enjoyed reading this poem. I like how it not only talked about music but conveyed the sound of it as well, making it play thru the readers ears as well as their eyes. I also like how it ended on a comedy note with the soap lol. Wonderfully explained and expressed! Tyfs

[Pete]

thanks for hopping by cyprian. what can i say - my life is a song, as long as i've got one inside everything is grand. it's always good to be clean and fresh. best wishes ... :)

[Insight "MH"]

I have a soft spot for Ireland, the culture, the proud Irish people, and the Irish accent. This poem added more love to the love that already exists in me, ” sláinte”

[Pete]

a beautiful, too often overlooked country rich in culture and heritage. i was supposed to visit quite a few years ago but it didn't happen - life got in the way. your soft spot is rightly so. "go raibh maith agat" as they say mh ... :)

[Insight "MH"]

Go ndéana sé maith duit :)

[Patricia Wedel]

dearest Pete... you are the leprechaun on the Rivers edge... on a quest to cleanse your Soul.
My favorite music is when the Wind weeps through the Willows and the Swallows sing their Song... Peaceful feelings lie on Lillies in the stream of Monet Dreams. tenderly, Pat

[Pete]

ah, such tranquil thoughts you share of nature's soothing touch. is all there for the taking as you so thoughtfully remind. no better soap to wash and renew faith. thanks ever so much for sharing pat ... :)

[Nicole]

Pete! I love this! You kicked my brain into gear on this Monday morning with thoughts of how everything is connected. I love it all -the Dublin, the suds, the devil’s “lyes”. I’m feeling challenged to create unthought of connections this week. I hope you have a wonderful Monday!

[Pete]

thanks nicole. it is a wonderful monday now because you stopped by and felt what i wrote. remember to keep a song in your heart and you'll never go wrong friend. i think the poem should be read while listening to the song. you've got me smiling now too ... :)

[Nicole]

You’re the sweetest...I always have a song in my heart! Glad you’re smiling. Now I’m singing every soap commercial in my head 😊

[Pete]

lol. i always have a song playing in my head as i go about my day but if i started dancing an irish jig in the grocery store i think they'd lock me up (just kidding). i'm glad you're doing well ... :)

[Nicole]

Haha...if you ever do decide to do that, make sure there’s a video! Thank you, I hope you’re doing well too!

[Pete]

hey now there's an idea - i could be on america's funniest (most revolting) home videos ... :)

[Nicole]

Most brave and silly. Make sure it’s in the soap aisle, it’ll get my vote! :)

[Pete]

how 'bout in my birthday suit? i'm roaring ... :)

[Nicole]

Hahahaha...Then we’re looking at lockup I’m afraid!

[Pete]

for sure. a serious crime - they'd throw the book at me (at least to cover me up) ... :)

[Nicole]

Well and if it’s a good book, you’d have something to read😂....I’ll come bail you out my friend!

[emmajoy]

This is magical music, this! Such a great mix of everything here, Pete, touches of that strange Irish tongue in cheek cheek, the jig 'nd spring of bouncy dancing, the longing for history and the forgiveness of present, And some here and there, briefly. you've caught the sometime melancholia of the people yet their enjoy of everything delicious - and of course, sudsy! This deserves a thousand reads, Pete. Keep safe, take care.

[Pete]

i don't know how anyone could hear the music and not be touched. surely the almighty gifts us much if we open our hearts and believe. it's all there for the taking if we like. thanks for hearing the not-so-far-off music with your keen, receptive ear my friend. i can't get my feet to stop tapping as it plays over and over in my head and my spirit soars ... :)

[emmajoy]

Saw, heard them maybe or so years ago. could have been Basingstoke or at a festival, know I was standing all the time, couldnt stop moving! There are few better than the Irish for playing sweat out their pores !! Crude quote, not mine but oh so true. Loved the way you wrote and thanks for adding the video. Keep safe, friend. :)

[emmajoy]

oops, meant to add maybe thirteen or so years.. duh..

[Pete]

lucky you. would love to have been there. visited your country once - went to bristol on business. saw london and rode the train ... :)

[emmajoy]

Bristol is a very thriving place these days, is large part wonderful and a small part very worrying.. have friends sometimes thinking of leaving then coming to realise things have to get better in a place so full of promise. London is wonderful.. full of its and buts.. and hellish politics but oh dear goodness is tiit specai. Come back soon, but only when you can walk free and chat to people, probaly those from your country who seem to love being here. And yes, am generally very proud of being English and being part of what just about remains the UK!

[Pete]

was surprised at how thriving it was as i rode the train from london through the countryside and arrived in bristol (didn't quite know what to expect). could feel the rich history in london as i went about. is our "old country", after all - it did give birth to the u.s. of america ... :)

[emmajoy]

... including the u's that are never used!

[X]

Aha, full of passion, beautiful words, lovely images and humor...a winning combination!

[Pete]

thanks kira. this spilled out today. i just never know. keep well friend ... :)

[X]

I love it when it spills :) Speaking of music here is mine poem produced and performed by my son and yours truly. Have a nice weekend.

https://youtu.be/s_PD8q3lS2c

[Pete]

wow. 13th sphere. very powerful and impressive. you're certainly multimedia. sheer poetry in motion ... :)

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Loved the history the culture and the humour in this one!

[Pete]

a country rich in history, culture and faith. thanks so much for kindly stopping by. "erin go bragh" my friend ... :)

[R.J Calzonetti (Siniste..]

My father and I quote the old commercial all the time. Whenever we both like something, one of us says "I like it too! Irish spring." I find it funny that we're not the only people who reference this. Great poem, put a smile on my face. :)

[Pete]

who can forget that commercial, right? i still use the soap sometimes and when i smell it memories flood over me. and who could forget the showering woman when she says, "Manly, yes, but I like it too". thanks for soaping up r. j ... :)