A Good Lent

For anyone hoping to make a Good Lent this year

A Good Lent

Norma Zimmermann

Remember you are dust, and to dust you will return

I hope I make a good Lent this year.

Not like last year, when I ate meat on Friday,

skipped Mass,

never went to adoration,

or stations of the cross.

I didn’t read my Lenten reflections,

or said the Rosary.

But now it is Ash Wednesday again,

the ashes are on my forehead,

and I didn’t wipe them off when I went to the library,

the bank, the grocery store where I remembered

to buy fish for Friday. 

I passed a man with ashes on

his forehead also, 

in a perfect cross, while mine looked like a big smear

over my eyebrows.

Remember you are dust, and to dust you will return

What to give up this year?

Forty more days until Easter,

how can I go forty days without 

chocolate?

When our Lord was in the desert,

for forty days, without food,

without chocolate

how did he do it?

All sandy, all hot.

I would have definitely given up,

that’s why I’m not the Lord,

that’s why I depend on Him for 

everything,

and that’s why I need to make a Good Lent.

Remember you are dust, and to dust you will return

Author's Note

I wrote this poem for Ash Wednesday. It's a little silly.

Reviews

[red93]

Fabulously playful, though on a serious subject. I really like how you run thru the gears with this. Again yr control over the subject matter is Excellent ✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️

[Stella Armour]

I never really understand these religious things people do to prove that they worship a deity, its sort of tribal symbolism to me ...
no disrespect intended my friend , i just don't get it .... be a good soul, worship the earth , do no harm ... is better for me.
( oh yes the one thing i forgive myelf for is indulgence in dark chocolate :) )

[NormaZ]

I guess it’s a Catholic thing Ha, ha! Thanks for stopping by and leaving your review!

[Stella Armour]

i guess it is .... we all are different , :)

[Betty Hermelee]

Dear Norma...I am not a religious person, but last eve I went to a restaurant to celebrate Valentine's day and there was a man sitting near us who had a cross of ashes on his forehead; i glanced and remembered it was lent day.....I like your poem because it has some humor in it, about wearing your ash forehead to several different places, a little embarrassing (perhaps) and also you had a need to eat chocolate... some taboos i suppose.... very nice!!
Warmly, B

[NormaZ]

Thank you for your review Betty! I was trying to be funny, and I hope I wasn’t too glib about such a solemn day. I’m glad you liked it.

[Betty Hermelee]

I loved the humor in it! You're very welcome Norma
Warmly, B