Things My Father Told Me

Gold cherry

By Silver Spun Sand

Sun, 18 Aug 2013
  • 2933 reads
18 comments
 

 

“If you eat carrots you can see in the dark

Big, yellow diggers are direct descendants

of dinosaurs.  At night, telegraph poles talk

to each other. God was actually christened

Godfrey. Wasps won’t sting you if you stand

on your head and sing Rule Britannia.

All women, and Aunt Maud, were born

with eyes in the back of their heads.

All spiders are called either Larry or Jane.

If you pick your nose too much, your nostrils

would grow so big they’d let in too much air,

and you’d inflate like the Michelin Man

and spin off into outer space.

 

Every country in the world is held together

by invisible string to stop them drifting

into the sea, and cascading off the edge

of the horizon. Everyone makes mistakes,

it’s just that mine are cleverer than most.

The moon has prayers written on her face,

and the dish, didn’t run away with the spoon,

and Tommy Tucker stacked shelves

in Tesco for his supper. Honey monsters

are distant relatives of the bear, and are known

to frequent the ‘slithy toves’ off the coast

of Bedfordshire. Tin soldiers have feelings too.

Loneliness is as small as the universe –

 big as goodbye. I’ll always be here...”

Certificate PG
Poem
Biography

Comments

Submitted by Bee on

Oh my goodness this is great! ''All women and aunt Maud...' That made me laugh. I have a massive phobia of wasps - don't know if I can hang around long enough to stand on my head singing Rule Britannia, but I'll give it a go. Some of these ideas are true and sensible, like countries being held together by string - well obviously! and honey monsters frequenting the slithy troves off the coast of Bedfordshire, that's brillig! Very wise man, your dad. And at least you never picked your nose -(too much)!

Lovely fun poem with a heartbreaking last line.

 

Bee

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

I too share your phobia of wasps, and bees...and snakes, since I was bitten by one in my own garden a couple of years ago now. 

Yes, my dad did have a wise head on his shoulders, bless him, and I really miss him,

So pleased you enjoyed this poem, and I hope he would have too;-)

Hope your week is a good one.

 

Tina

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Hi there, bb;-)

Many thanks for reading, and for using that wonderful turn of phrase 'bobby dazzler' which one could use to describe your lovely comment.

Tina

 

Submitted by london_calling79 on

The last line is a real kick in the teeth. Reminds me of my day's constant refrain when I asked him what the nuts and bolts were for when he had been to the hardware store - 'For making weedle deedles to shoot crickets'.

 

Submitted by london_calling79 on

The last line is a real kick in the teeth. Reminds me of my day's constant refrain when I asked him what the nuts and bolts were for when he had been to the hardware store - 'For making weedle deedles to shoot crickets'.

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

What a great line that is, lc;-)  Must remember  to tell it to my grandkids, one of these days.

Many thanks for reading, and sharing.

 

Tina;-)

 

Submitted by Parson Thru on

Hi Tina. Lovely to share. Made me smile.

Parson Thru

Submitted by Luke Neima on

 This is our Facebook and Twitter pick of the day.

Join us on Facebook at ABCtales.com

Join us on Twitter @tcookabctales

Get a great reading recommendation most days.

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

You've made my day.  Many thanks;-)

Tina

 

 

 

Submitted by catherine poarch on

This is a very rich read. And the last two lines made my head do a somersault and my heart ache.

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

More than oblived to you for your words, catherine.  You have quite a way with them;-)

 

Submitted by scratch on

Bloody marvellous Tina.  Just what I needed - that feel good factor!

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

scratch - you're a star;-)  Thanks, so very much.

Tina

 

 

Submitted by Dark Fox on

My mum is the one who tells me everything, her favourite saying is, don't pull that face because the wind will change and we would be stuck like that.

I really enjoyed this.

 

Kayleigh Nichols

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

I can't think how I missed this poem Tina,  there's so much humour with all the sayings, that I found so amusing to read.  I cannot pick out my favourite,  they're all just brilliant.  Well deserved of the gold cherries. Jenny.

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thanks, Jenny;-)  So pleased you enjoyed.  Have a good Sunday.

Tina

 

 

 

Submitted by Stephen Thom on

Wonderful.

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Many thanks, Steve;-)

Tina