Life after accountancy

I dined on wine and lettuce leaves

and all the surfeit money brings.

I swam with sharks and ate them up,

Oh, how I filled my selfish cup;

And every corner that I trod

some little trinket I partook;

Oft times for sport, (though most

for gain) and never let the rumour

start that I was empty in my heart.

But sinners turn, or so they say,

from hunter to suppliant prey;

and thus on Sundays I aspire

to cast away all of desire;

Give back with equal amplitude,

and trust a prayer may just suffice,

(though quietly I say amen twice)

You know, a kind of just in case

before I leave this lovely place.

Reviews

[R J Askew]

Of course I had to read this one to the bottom line. Love the whimsy of the title. And also the uppettyness of verse 1. The moral shift in verse 2 is the most important bit though, with the back firmly turned on more youthful ambition, indulgence, success etc and the focus shifting to a moral sort of accounting where money and numbers do not feature. The first verse serves to accentuate the second perfectly - with a flawless gear change.

[Crowley]

Lol... this is great. I am glad I’m past my ladder climbing years although some of it was fun while it lasted. I am happy now to hang out with friends, write a bit and work for the man as much as I have to. By the way, happy hour at six!!!!

[Beccy]

Only 40 minutes to go 'til six on this side of the pond. Cheers! :))

[Crowley]

Watching football and having a few here, it’s 12:30 Sunday Funday! Karaoke after!

[Eilis]

I suppose the understanding that our reign at the top is always only temporary is one of the more important lessons of life. Humbling ourselves voluntarily is no easy thing.

I like that this poem holds itself up like a mirror, and reflects back in the same way a parable does. Didactics have a tendency to put a bad taste in a lot of people’s mouths, but a good anecdote can open up the flood gates and get us looking back at ourselves.

Not saying that was your intention with this, but it does have that affect. And then, even, it gives a little more with the last three lines. The human weakness and our grasping against it.

A very cool poem, Beccy.

[Beccy]

Glad my intention came through; though I do try not to preach overmuch, :))

I was thinking about my time in the city when I wrote it. Six years plus, spent in the shark infested waters of the square mile; mildly castigating myself in the first verse, for falling into the trap of onward's and upwards at any cost.

Verse two was a reflection of how the imminent birth of my son Charlie changed everything. It opened my eyes to the fact that my world had brought little reward other than the material; gave me the impetus to not so much give back, but take back and embrace that which ought to be truly valued.

I was gone almost in an instant.

[Eilis]

Children seem to change everything. They make the world seem like such a different place.

[afish]

A very good poem Beccy, beautifully crafted, lyrical, honest. The crispness of lettuce, the depth of wine.
Was surprised it was written so long ago, must check out your more recent stuff.
More things are wrought by prayer than this world ever dreams of.
Go well
>

[R.E. Ray]

Ah, a Sunday morning Christian? I say this smiling... because I'm probably one, when I decide to go to church. Your poem is a mirror, and I wonder how others see themselves, if absolutely honest. We have a few devout ones for sure, though I estimate most are as you've painted in this poem. I think you've described a "sinner," Beccy. :)

[Beccy]

Better sometime, than never. :))

I actually attend church regularly, though I would never class myself as overly devout; more a believer in a higher hand, it all working rather to well, (aside from our blundering around,) for it to be simply an evolutionary co-incidence.

Interesting comment, thank you.

[Ed Hart]

oh look at all the wonderful comments you've got on this shining piece seriofun, and this is from a guy who knows all the variations and volumes of 'amen' and seems to nod and shake his head to the same tune...thanks for the smile this early morning

[Pryde Foltz]

I love the karmic balance you have struck in this superb verse … lead with gratitude.

[h d e rushin]

still one of the finest poems ever written..I return to it often just to let it scratch my face again..

dana

[Philip Muls]

You capture well that we are torn between being ego-centered 'heroes' here on earth and being mere mortals in a brutal universe. See my story Angst on same topic.

Well done.