I grew up with sayings,
maxims, proverbs, knew them
ere I understood,
and every now and then
some chance remark or action
brings one close.
Teaching. Stints of swimming
duty at a nearby pool. And then
they built a bigger, better one
a mile or two away.
The old one closed, and Michael
asked me how
they'd carried all that water all that way.
A version I supposed,
of coals to Newcastle.
Teaching again. The school
is bordered by large houses.
Ample grounds with conker trees.
Not unknown for boys to infiltrate.
One does, the very day our friendly pol-
ice liaison officer is visiting.
He asks the boy if he has ever heard
how mighty oaks from little acorns grow.
The boy responds emphatically: he's
not darned taken any acorns -
only conkers, sir!
Working in his study
planning an assembly
a colleague head
looks out to see
a lorry, flashing light,
parked in his drive.
The drive has speed bumps.
The study door flies open.
A workman stand there.
In the area repairing roads.
Half a load of tar to spare.
The drive need s some repair.
He quotes a price.
My friend agrees.
Rushes out with sermon notes.
Returns to find
the bumps no longer visible.
The bill exorbitant.
Not the price agreed!
The price. Square yard, sir!
A foot of it lies on the drive.
Telling the tale,
weakly he would say
he thought the man was kosher
who had a flashing light.
I thought of how we shouldn't spoil
(what?) for a halfpennyworth of tar.
.........................................................
This last is interesting (to me). I believe originally the saying was not to spoil the hog. Later "hog" became "sheep", but when I was a boy we said "ship". I took it to refer to tarring the ship's decks to make them waterproof. But was it a natural slide from sheep to ship?
Submitted to Poets United for their Think Tank Thursday #93 : Quotes
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12 comments:
Make sense Dave! As long as you have a good answer. Great write!
Hank
It was always ship when I was growing up.
I was taken right back to my own childhood with this. Oh, how we wanted those conkers! LOLOL We played it for ages, then, went looking for more. Kids over here have never even heard of it.
This was a lovely read Dave :)
Trying to recollect some of my parents' old quotes as I sit here. They do come back at odd occasions, not when I will them to. One of my dad's winter quotes: "Close the door. I am not working for the electric company." One of my mom's: "Pretty is as pretty does." As for the quote you wondered about, it is Greek to me. We in the U.S. never talked about a "halfpennyworth" of anything. LOL.
Very clever and entertaining, Dave... I especially like the third stanza.
smiles...this was clever...i will have to think of some of the quips i used to hear growing up....the third stanza is def my fav...
When I was growing up they always used to say ship too.
A great story, Dave. Highly entertaining to read and it brought back some long lost memories for me :)
One uses these saying thoughtlessly. It's good of you to give them shape and substance.
My butcher frequently uses the last expression, mainly when he wants to add a quarter pound of this or that to my order.
My Aunt always had some cool sayings....love this Dave!!
Great poem, Dave.
Hank
Ah, but what makes a good answer? Thanks for yours.
The Elephant's Child
That's reassuring. Thanks.
Daydreamertoo
Yes. We too. I couldn't believe it when conkers got banned in schools for being too dangerous!
Mary
I can nnever think of the ld proverbs when I most want to. Except a few, mostly those my dad used: A bad workman blames his tools, etc. (We pronounced it "a ha'poth of tar".)
Laurie
Thanks - I was most satisfied with that one too.
Brian
Thanks for saying so. Always nice to know!
Ygraine
Definitely beginning to look like it wasn't me mishearing or misremembering! Thanks.
Friko
Yes, I've often heard it used like that, as well! And I agree about theit thoughtless use.
Carrie
They were much more used by earlier generations, I think.
Rachna
Thanks for saying so.
"Ha'poth" -- When I visited your part of the world, I think people there thought I was hard of hearing. I was always saying, "What???" They would repeat whatever again, but louder!
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