Tuesday 9 August 2011

Magpie Memory 77.


Voice of an Angel.

My sin was his sin.
Embarrassment 
drove my father.

While God watched,
he thrashed Satan
from his children.

But God was not appeased.
Like all sadists,
He rarely is.

But it stopped the year
I won the eisteddfod;
1947.

I never sang again.
But looking back,
It was a fair trade.

Look for more cheerful pieces at Magpie Tales.
at

17 comments:

  1. Snowbrush9 August 2011 at 4:42 am

    "Look for more cheerful pieces at Magpie Tales."

    But if we love heartache, doom, gloom, despair, and angst, is is alright if we stay here?

    I love the third stanza. The god I grew up with--the Christian god--was a mean son of a bitch too.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Donald Fishgrab9 August 2011 at 6:53 am

    John said, "He that loveth not knoweth not God. How many have judged God by claims of people who didn't know him themselves

    ReplyDelete
  3. Brigid O'Connor9 August 2011 at 7:02 am

    I never sang again.
    But looking back,
    It was a fair trade.

    - they are probably the most powerful lines I have read in a long time.
    I hope you get to sing now.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Suz9 August 2011 at 7:17 am

    this was so sad
    but I know you do and did sing again
    God is not a sadist
    man is

    ReplyDelete
  5. Everyday Goddess9 August 2011 at 7:33 am

    i'm sad to hear this.

    ReplyDelete
  6. kaykuala9 August 2011 at 7:58 am

    The gems you continue to give us now tells me you won the literary part of the competition. Good for you. Not surprised that you did!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Brian Miller9 August 2011 at 9:58 am

    a fair trade? oh i think not...and i agree with suz...

    ReplyDelete
  8. Jenne' R. Andrews 9 August 2011 at 5:05 pm

    Fascinating write-- thank you! xxxj

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous9 August 2011 at 7:57 pm

    Touching Stafford.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Steve Capelin9 August 2011 at 9:06 pm

    Powerful piece Stafford.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Helen10 August 2011 at 12:11 am

    I feel your pain ... incredibly revealing. Thank you for that honesty.

    ReplyDelete
  12. annell410 August 2011 at 12:57 am

    Sounds like a fair trade indeed.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Maude Lynn10 August 2011 at 4:51 am

    "But God was not appeased.
    Like all sadists,
    He rarely is."

    Outstanding.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Louise10 August 2011 at 5:15 am

    Very strong piece, hard hitting because it has to be.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous10 August 2011 at 10:04 am

    Great poem Stafford and poignant - but at least you played your bass guitar in a band (and I'm sure you sing in the shower).

    ReplyDelete
  16. Tess Kincaid11 August 2011 at 5:44 am

    No apologies needed here, Ford. I can certainly relate to this post, more than I care to. Powerful write; don't ever hold back.

    ReplyDelete
  17. ninotaziz11 August 2011 at 9:12 pm

    Dear Stafford.

    Dear dear Stafford.

    Never stop. Don't stop.

    we'll take the laughter and the tears.

    ReplyDelete

(leave a message)