The above image was provided as prompt by Magpie Tales
She had foretold
the world would end,
set out the chairs
for all her followers.
They'd sat there
through the night,
alert in prayer
high on the hill
for the best view,
the clearest sound.
The cataclysm
passed them by.
Far out in space
another planet
witnessed it.
Earth remained unscathed.
The flesh was weak.
When morning dawned
the empty chairs
spoke faithlessness.
So now she's stumped:
how to return
the chairs by noon,
fulfil her other promise?
34 comments:
Mr Dave your poem is superb,like the topic.
Superb bathos, Dave. Great Magpie.
Another Cinderella story per chance? Thanks, Dave.
Ooh, I'm in a quandary over the final verse. Have to come back for another read.
I have always thought that scripture could apply to writers: "A [writer] is honoured everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family." Enjoyed this poem, especially the fact that the cataclysm does take place. I seem to recall a film where we have a similar situation, the world refuses to end and, as one of the faithful is heading of home at daybreak he says something like, “See you for the end of the world next week then?”
Sometimes the blind lead the blind, it seems.
Hahaha - love it! Now she has to get those chairs back so she doesn't lose her deposit, lol. I hate it when that happens :o)
Intrigued by this poem!
smiles...right, but off the mark...and can she save just a shred of her dignity in getting the chairs back...you dont think about those things when the world is ending you know...smiles.
Oooo. I love it. I feel sympathy for her. And what a picture to go with!
great Magpie Sir!
JJRod'z
The one like she makes Earth remained unscathed, by sort of self-devotion,I think.
I wasn't expecting the last stanza! Quite the Magpie, Dave ...
This reminds me of the Millerites who got rid of everything in preparation for the end of the world. Afterwards, looking silly was the least of their problems.
Great write.
That's what happens when others try to play God... reminds me of another 'false alarm' not long ago.
Dreamily beautiful...
This poem is so different from your usual ones, I liked it a lot, Dave.
Followers can be so fickle and, always, the chairs must be returned. This is a truly terrific Magpie!
Makes me wonder about other things that pass me by, and about the people who experience them.
And I love the last stanza. Just a great ending.
=)
Very much like the irony here. Nice work, David.
A very intriguing write - reminds of all the false prophesy around the end of the worls.
otherworldly good!
Great, great and surprising, breathtaking as a whole and also marvellously ironical the final stanza.
Enjoyed this... it is always a problem when one tries to predict the end of the world and gets the date wrong.
Great poem, Dave. You have created a wonderful story to go with it and the wry message about false prophets is pointedly apt these days...
How many prohets through the ages have predicted the end of the world only to be proven false :-).
Ooooh---what's her other promise??? This poem has just enough narrative and just enough mystery.
I like how we are on her side (at least I was!).
"... except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household”, yep!
I enjoyed your story in verses, full of irony and suspense, ending as it had to.
Only God knows.
The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak, indeed.
Tell the girl to raffle the chairs for an empty theatre...
:)))
uh dave this is intriguing..with the weak flesh and she having to see how she gets those chairs back..love the tale you spun here
Yes, false prophets; and your last stanza reminds us that the end of the world forecast was just another hyped event... Good Magpie Dave!
After the world was supposed to end when we flipped into 2000, a couple of my friends and I wondered what people who fully believed the apocalypse would arrive DID on January 2nd. We wondered how they got on with their lives, how the mundane bits and pieces of life returned to them.
Now I know. They return their chairs. They go to the store after all. Try to talk a boss out of accepting their resignation...
I really liked this. And I loved that fourth stanza "Far out in space..."
Magpie Tales offers marvelous prompts I think. I loved reading Brian's poem and how different his take was. Both poems hit me where I live, which IS the whole point of poetry for me.
sunny
Thanks sunny
Doctor FTSE
Many thanks.
Elisabeth
I'm a sucker for a Cinderella. Thank you.
Titus
Guess she hired the chairs, promising to return them in the morning - touch of flippancy.
Jim
Thanks Jim. Yes, your final scenario does ring a bell. Can't place it for the moment though. I do agree about the writer not being honoured in his home town, among the family ets.
Mary
I think that is very often the case. The trick is not to let on that you're blind - if you're the leader, that is.
Other Mary
Exactly right! Thanks.
Kathryn
Hi! Really good to have you commenting. Thank you for it and a warm welcome to you.
Brian
Exactly, you just promise to return them - again?
Elizabeth
Superb picture. So many directions it could have taken me. I think she looks a person in need of sympathy in the picture.
JJ Roa
Hi and a warm welcome to you. Many thanks for your comment. Good to have it.
Haricot
Could be, could well be.
Helen
Thanks Helen.
anthonynorth
I must look them up. Thanks for the steer.
Laurie
Absolutely.
insanebloom
Good to have your comment. Welcome. Thank you for visiting.
Rachna
Thank you for this comment. I think I agree. Yes, it is different.
Tumblewords
Thank you very much. Appreciate the comment.
Sue
Hi and a very warm welcome to the blog. An interesting line to your comment, but yes, I agree. Worth following maybe.
hedgewitch
Good to have your company and your comment. Thank you for them.
Jo
Hi and welcome. Interesting comment. Thank you for it. Yes, there seem to be as many now as ever there were.
Everyday Goddess
Thank you for your comment. Good to have you visiting.
Tommaso
Thanks for the "ironical". I had thought it might be deemed flippant.
Christine
Indeed. There isn't exactly anywhere to hide, is there?
Nicholas V
Hi! A very warm welcome to you. Thank you for your kind words. They are much appreciated.
Windsmoke
Lost count!
Hannah
2 promises: the world would end, and she would return the chairs in the morning. Thanks for an interesting response. Yes, most seem to be batting for her.
Dulcina
Hi! Lovely to have you visiting and thanks for an absorbing comment. What an excellent idea! Why didn't I think of that?
Claudia
Ah, I hadn't thought to put those two together. Clever of you. Thanks for the comment.
Ann
Many thanks for your welcome visit and comment. Both much valued.
Jeanette LS
Manythanks for your absorbing response and kind words. I do agree with you RE the prompt. It suggested so many lines of development I felt spoiled for choice. Thanks again. Lovely to have your comment.
Love the irony in this. Excellent magpie, sir! Thank you.
ds
Really good to have this comment. Thank you.
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