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Poems from Moss Rich

  
 
 
    		 
    THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

    THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

    in limericks.

     

    (I had written this piece to test how far one could use the light-hearted limerick form for serious subjects.)

     

     

    1. I AM THE LORD THY GOD

     

    The paths that the Pagans have trod

    I find exceedingly odd.

    The monotheistic

    Accepted statistic

    Is that there is only one god.

     

     

    2. THOU SHALT NOT MAKE UNTO THEE ANY GRAVEN IMAGE

     

    The idols taboo is intentional,

    The shape of The Lord’s not conventional.

    Bit of Dresden or Meissen

    Could well be a nice’un

    But Jehovah is not 3-dimentional.

     

     

    3. THOU SHALT NOT TAKE THE NAME… IN VAIN

     

    The name of The Lord is supreme.

    It deserve your respect and esteem.

    You couldn’t act sillier

    Than be too familiar –

    He’s the Chairman, not one of the team.

     

     

    4. REMEMBER THE SABBATH DAY

     

    The rights of the workers are clear,

    All work and no pay is no cheer.

    Six day you may slave,

    But the seventh you save

    For a Prayer and a song and a beer.

     

     

    5. HONOUR THY FATHER AND THY MOTHER

     

    Like any kind lass and good lad,

    Look after your mum and your dad.

    Treat them as you

    Would like your kids to do –

    And The Lord will be awfully glad.

     

     

     

    6. THOU SHALT NOT KILL

     

    If society is to be stable

    And peaceable, not like a Babel,

    All differences ought

    To be settled in Court

    And not the way Cain settled Abel.

     

     

    7. THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY

     

    The family system depends

    On knowing how baby descends.

    Mum’s got to have had

    The baby from Dad

    And not from the family friends.

     

     

    8. THOU SHALT NOT KILL

     

    The property law is divine :

    What I righteously own is all mine

                What’s his’n is his’n

                And you’ll go to prison

    If you try to turn into thine.

     

     

    9. THOU SHALT NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS

     

    There was a young lady who said

    The first thing that came into her head.

    She shouldn’t have said it,

    It did her discredit,

    Little fibbers go early to bed !

     

     

    10. THOU SHALT NOT COVET…

     

    When your neighbour’s away for the night

    Keep his pretty wife out of sight.

    Believe me, a shady

    Affair with this lady

    Is bound to come out in the light.

                                                               

     

    ( To a member of Brighton poetry group. She was the lively middle-aged wife of COV vickar.

    She went into hospital with cancer, and died there.

    In her last few days, she sent us a message asking for some of her poems. I thought this piece was suitable and sent it to her. Her husband wrote to say that she has been pleased to see her work once more.)