Reap What You Sow
I will begin ab ovo.
But; it’s a long story, don’t you know?
Yes, the beginning is best!
As I tell this story, be my guests.
For me, it’s such delectation,
Sharing this, proclamation.
Oh yes, such a great pleasure,
So, I’ll tell it, without measure.
I will palliate this to you
Using many words or few.
And extend all that I remember.
And; trust, I’ll not be an offender.
Now, I might not be a deipnosophist
From this, you can take me off your list.
For “table talk” is not my lingo
And I don’t care who has ever said so.
I might even be known as recessive or shy,
But at least I’ll give this my best try.
So recumbent yourselves
As I tell this tell, as you read and delve,
Recline your ear, so you can hearken or hear,
These words that come conterminous or near.
Now as jeremiad a story as this may sound,
No sadder story can this be found…A mendicant woman all dressed in red.
Starveling; without a pillow or bed.
Sat on the side of a dusty road one day,
While a bedizen attired woman came her way.
With hand out; she cried, “Can you spare me a dime”?
“Be gone”, enjoined the woman, “I haven’t the time”.
“Not even some pin-money?” the beggar pleaded again.
“I need it terribly, I’ve nothing to spend.”
Trenchantly the woman spat in haste,
“I’ve nothing to give, I’ve nothing to waste”.
The begging woman said, “Please take this.”
Handing her a flower and smiled in bliss.
Precariously she turned to walk away.
She had nothing she’d give and nothing else to say.
She had business to tend to in the presence of a king.
She had stories to tell him, and presents to bring.
So she left the mendicant woman on the side of the road
But knew nothing of her future and what forebode.
Entering the king’s palace in her gaudy attire,
Thinking she’d suasion him with her lust and desire.
There she comely saw the king on his thrown
With equanimity; she hurried to him, making her presence known.
But with braggadocio, she laid the gifts at his feet
Then looking up so their eyes would meet.
But what she saw were like brazen eyes of fire.
She gasped, she moaned and she cried, “Oh Sire!”
His eyes still with fire, but also with tears,
He dictumed these words that rang in her ears,
“I’ve watched your life and even this day,
So be gone with you, be on your way!”
I do not desire any presents you bring,
Nor fancy words, nor the songs you sing.
Yes, I’ve watched and observed how you’ve lived your life.”
Trenchantly, these words rang in her ears, and cut like a knife.
“You’ve had no pity for the needy, be it friend or foe.
Nor given your time, nor a kind “hello.”
I watched as you passed the mendicant woman today,
So; be gone with you, I’ve nothing more to say.”
With a fetor she rose, getting to her feet
Keeping her eyes at bay so they would not meet.
She grimaced and groaned and walked toward the door
Keeping her head down and her eyes on the floor.
Just then she noticed tattered shoes walking in…
Hearing the king as he proclaimed, “Oh, my friend!”
“Come here my dear one, I have a gift for you.”
She looked up to see whom he was talking to.
With dismay she noticed the woman in red,
The starveling one; without, pillow or bed.
She looked to see what the king had in store,
And saw that he gave her the gifts on the floor.
Oh how she thought this all so abstruse,
So full of herself, but quite obtuse.
She heard the king order a banquet be served
To this she, all quietly; but astonishingly observed.
But this was more than she thought she could take
Arrogantly crying; to the king, “For mercy’s sake!”
“You will reap what you sow.” he answered and said,
To his servants, he ordered, “Off with her head!”
There is a lesson here we all should learn.
For, what we do to others, we also earn.Copyright © Sydell Linsicombe
June, 2004
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This is what one does when they are terribly bored. They sit at the computer with Webster's Dictionary open and make up silly little poems using the words of the day. Many thanks to Webster's Dictionary and also to RhymeZone
http://www.rhymezone.com http:// www.dictionary.com