Mrs. McGinlay's Sandwiches.

Andrew McGeever · Post by **Andrew McGeever** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 8:30 pm

Mrs. McGinlay's Sandwiches.

This heat: we sit and kneel in unison;
outside, a queue of cars, their drivers dressed
in uniform respect. Stained-glass coughing
splits the silent congregation. Now it's
the Eucharist: wafers dissolved
on extended tongues. I remember when

her hair was black: she gave us baskets
to gather berries, prizes for those
who picked the most. We gorged more than
we gathered, purple vomit on our shorts.
The rest became Mrs. McGinlay's jam,
sugared, stirred in muslin-covered tubs.

We chanted our tables at school, and knew
to knock on her unlocked kitchen door,
unhinge our jaws, consume home-cooked slabs
of Mrs. McGinlay's sandwiches, wipe
the thankyous from our mouths, return for more.

Her mass is over, yet the taste of bread
and blood, body and jam sticks on my tongue.

LaurieAK · Post by **LaurieAK** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 10:19 pm

Andrew~

What a lovely trip through this woman's life as it connected with yours (or the speaker's).

Excellent attention paid to the lines.

So, i have to ask if this is a particular "formula"? The small inconsistencies in beats and unpredictabile rhyme schemes, leaves me thinking the answer is "No." But I am curious if i am wrong.

A masterful portrayal.

thanks for sharing,
Laurie

Andrew McGeever · Post by **Andrew McGeever** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 12:55 am

What do you mean by "formula"?
Andrew.

LaurieAK · Post by **LaurieAK** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 1:20 am

Sorry for the undefinable term. This is how i learned it was described.

Sonnet form, villanelle, sestina, etc...(although i know for sure it is not the latter two) these are just examples of what i know as 'formulas' of poetry.

L

George.Wright · Post by **George.Wright** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 4:01 am

The jam and the blood of christ, what an intresting analogy and such a period piece, the poetry oozes time.
As usual Andrew, an excellent piece.
Georges

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 5:24 am

Hello!!!!!

Andrew McGeever · Post by **Andrew McGeever** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 10:57 pm

To Laurie AK,
Thanks for your warm comments : I understand now what you meant by "formula". No, the poem is not written in any of the forms you quoted, but it's probably "sonnet-ish" (is that a word? It is now; I've just used it!)
To George, I know what you meant by "the poetry oozes time". It's a time long gone, irreplaceable.
To Sandra, what else can I reply, apart from "Hello"?
Andrew.