Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Magpie Tales #65, "St. Francis"


St. Francis

As sunlight, rain, and fam'ly prayer
were gently poured upon your head,
you stoically stood, whitewashed,
amidst the vibrant marigolds.
Upon this sight we daily checked
inspired and awed by God's design
of how things grew and how things died
(our cucumbers did not survive).
Fond memories of healthy food,
of dirty hands and dirty cheeks,
and happy times together spent
still fill our hearts with love and joy.
A little pig and stately goose
are cherished still within our yard,
but, Francis, you were left behind
beneath our house to help it sell.
You did your job, we can't complain
and truly hope that you were found;
as buried upside down, beneath
our lawn is not a proper "Thanks".

by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens, May 10, 2011

This was for "Magpie Tales #65".  The photo prompt was:

Photo provided by Tess Kincaid

These photos are form our first family garden a few years ago.  We paid a tiny bit of money for a spot of earth at a local farm in Harbor Springs, MI that reaped huge rewards: tasty green beans, lettuce, dill, tomatoes and lovely sunflowers.   We loved going there as our garden was right next to the pasture.    The pig and goose were my daughters' addition to the garden with the specific purpose of keeping St. Francis company.

And yes, I know (now) that Catholic practice is to bury St. Joseph, not St. Francis!   But, hey - it didn't seem to hurt!  :)

I tried to impose a structure with this poem (which nearly killed me!) an 8 syllable count and a "heartbeat" rhythm ... I can't remember what that is called...



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The following photo is for "Perceptive Perspectives" and the theme this week is "high contrast"

16 comments:

Elise/One Woman, Reinvented said...

I love the sunflower picture -- gorgeous color.

TexWisGirl said...

oh, i love the last one of the bird and limbs!

and i'm envisioning poor St Francis still buried in dirt somewhere! :)

Hollie said...

Great capture and awesome timing with the bird shot!

Donna B. said...

Dynamic composition and design in the last picture of the fluttering bird on pine branches. Beautifully unique!

Templeton's fury said...

wonderful

Helen said...

I also hope your St. Francis was discovered by the new homeowners. Lovely photos, innocent faces, great sunflower!!!

Margaret said...

If St. Francis has not been "saved", I will swing by and dig him up this summer when we visit Northern Michigan. The funny thing, I'm Catholic and just got my saints messed up. It is supposed to be Joseph - but it seems St. Francis was a good substitute. :)

Tess Kincaid said...

I can't help but wonder who might dig him up in the distant future and wonder.

Doctor FTSE said...

Margaret . . never mind what that particular "form" is called. You held the rhythm beautifully, which doesn't trip up anywhere. Just one line where you have cut a syllable out of "happily" - but that, I guess, happened because you wanted to get on with the next line and the next and didn't afterwards go back to think about it again. Try something like "and happy times together spent." Keep at it. And BTW, your daughter is a lovely child. Thanks for letting us see her pic.

My Captivating Life said...

Great post & photo's.

Donna B. said...

??? I thought it was the statue of St. Jospeh to bury upside down to help sell a house? And I thought you were to dig it up and put it in prominant display once sold??

Margaret said...

Doc - your advice has been taken! Thanks. I think my mind was just beat up after the enforced "workout".

Donna - yes, I know. And I'm a life-long Catholic! I should have known better. I can visit the house this summer and I talk with the new owners. My guess is she has already found him as she loved our flowers. :)

Trellissimo said...

Nice homely poem and fine pictures. Thanks.

Lisa Gordon said...

Your girls are beautiful, and that last photograph is just stunning!

Margaret said...

Thank you Dr FTSE!. I thought I had changed it according to your excellent suggestion... maybe I didn't hit "SAVE".

Donna - Yes, St. Joseph is the correct saint. :)

Steve Isaak said...

Good lead-up/verse breaks/all that; love the end-line.