"Two wrongs may not make a right but a thousand wrongs make a writer.”

Sunday, May 13, 2012

The Common Good - Magpie Tales

The Meal, 1891, by Paul Gauguin


The children sit with folded hands
And wait for the meal to begin.
Dressed in their best with manners on display,
They wait for the hostess to sit down and pray.
The hands that held the knife
Juiced the lemon and set the table
Fold and begin.
The mother is first.


The painting prompt comes to us from Tess at Magpie Tales. Thank you Tess and happy Mother's Day to all.  May you all enjoy a meal as fine as the painting by Gauguin suggests.

24 comments:

Frances Garrood said...

Lovely, Yvonne! (And don't you just love the picture!)

Anonymous said...

ohh, this is a sweet and charming
poem, pretty cadence.

Laurel's Quill said...

Very nice, Yvonne. Happy!

brenda w said...

Happy Mother's Day. I like the tasks set to hands. Well done.

Grace said...

This is lovely...Happy Mother's Day to you ~

Jemi Fraser said...

So lovely! Both the picture and the poem :)

Maude Lynn said...

Lovely!

Hannah said...

And what a great day to be reading this!! Respect for the mother indeed, well done!!

Anonymous said...

and the mom is out there on knees praying already

quick heat quick art

Laurie Kolp said...

This is such a nice tribute to mother's day... enjoy!

Brian Miller said...

that is wonderful that they let mother go first...especially today...and meal time together is a dying art but so important...

kaykuala said...

How very charming! They're all well behaved. Ideal for Mother's Day!

Hank

21 Wits said...

...and just as soon as the prayer ends...we can eat!

Trellissimo said...

I thought custom put cooks last to be served...

Shawna said...

I like this very much. Simple, to the point, and true. A real capture of a religious family. Great job.

Unknown said...

I love the sense of order and formality you have included in your poem, Yvonne. A beautiful family tribute for Mothers' Day. Thanks so much for sharing. =D

Carrie Van Horn said...

I agree! :-)

Helena said...

That was sweet. I like table manners and consideration - unlike my mob at times!

Helen said...

Always first ... especially on Mother's Day!

Dave King said...

Beautifully done for Mothers Day.

izzy said...

I agree with your view! not terribly happy for them, but like all of us
good things come to those who wait!

Yvonne Osborne said...

Thanks everyone, for commenting. I'm visiting all your blogs rather than responding individually here. I read and reread every comment. And then read again. This prompt has been my favorite in a while. I adore the masters and I'm happy to see there are so many like-minded bloggers out there.

Tess Kincaid said...

Lovely and perfect for Mother's Day...

Kathe W. said...

This is sweet and poignant. A lovely look at the painting.