Friday, January 24, 2020

The Pigeon Poem

The Pigeon 
 (Parody of "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe)

Once upon a hot summer’s day, while in my E-Z chair I lay
Sweating over homework due on the morrow
I nodded, nearly napping, when suddenly there came a tapping
Like the Mormon missionaries rapping, rapping at my small screen door
“Go away!” I muttered, “I’ve heard you all before.”
                              That was it and nothing more.

I sighed relief that they must have gone along their way
I thought I shouldn’t have been so blunt and bold
Until I heard another round, more of that dreaded tapping sound
As of someone intently rapping, rapping at my small screen door
In a fit of rage, I threw a pillow “I don’t want your forgotten lore!”
                              Hoping they’d leave forevermore.

Presently my soul grew stronger, hesitating then no longer
“Sir,” said I, “or madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping and so intently you came rapping
So persistent was your tapping, tapping as you did before,
That it got upon my nerves” – here I opened up the door
                              Doormat there and nothing more.

Squinting into the sun so searing, I stood there for a moment fearing
Was this parody due driving me insane, the one of 10 lines or more?
Suddenly there came a flapping, flapping in my home, then crapping!
Crapping all over my newly waxed floor!! I felt my heart beating, fleeting
As I looked up from the door,
                              Tis a pigeon there and nothing more.

Angered I shooed the bird with a tap, now I had to clean its crap
I couldn’t believe the bad luck I was having that day
Undoubtedly I knew that now, my mom was going to have a cow
How I wished it was the Mormons rapping, tapping on my small screen door
Then I wouldn’t have to scrub, scrub and get my fingers sore.
                              Will I again answer the door? Nevermore!

by Jenn the high school student
January 28, 1993

The Rest of the Story

Even back in high school, I found myself writing poetry for my peers. This poem was written to benefit my English period classmates. I knew this would be read aloud and I couldn’t wait. I remember choking back laughter and trying to read the poem through my tears. The roars of laughter echo in my mind and I can still see my peers doubling over in delight. In the interest of full disclosure, everyone knew my family was Mormon, so it was okay for me to poke fun at the missionaries. I’m not sure anyone else in the class could have gotten away with it, but I certainly did.

I believe humor is a great way to balance out the stressors of life. When I could otherwise scream, shout, cry or kick something, I choose laughter every time. Do you love to laugh? Can you think of a time you said something funny to cheer someone up? Has someone ever turned your frown upside-down with a good laugh? 

No comments:

Post a Comment

The Boy I Left Behind Poems

Timeless Our relationship together Is a web through time. Slowly spinning up, down around A never-ending kaleidoscope of you and m...