Sixpence

Our Christmas dinner was served,
With traditional veggies and meat,
It’s a roast with the usual crackle,
Plus gravy to make it complete.

And then it is time for the sweets,
It’s a pudding with personal pride
From a recipe of our grandmother,
With money that’s hidden inside.

Now each and all hope and they pray,
The pudding that’s put on their plate,
Will be blessed with a monetary gain,
In the pudding that’s meant to be ate.

There’s picking and prodding the pudding,
Through custard the searchers persist,
But for one of the kids at the table,
A sixpence has duly been missed.

There’s panic and tears from the error,
For the sixpence that slid down his throat,
But young Barry is wisely assured,
That the loss of his coin is remote.

The family all gathered together,
When our Barry was called to the ‘loo’,
For now it is time for the sixpence, 
To hopefully come into view.

With a ladle, a knife and a fork,
The search was a family affair,
In a delicate operative fashion, 
To see if the sixpence was there.

And there in the light glow of the ‘loo’,
We noticed the head of the queen,
With the tongs now the sixpence is back,
Although it is a little unclean. 

Now the sixpence is safe in a drawer,
Back settled from our Christmas cheer,
But here is the pertinent question…
I wonder who gets it next year?

Copyright © | Year Posted 2016



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Date: 8/29/2018 3:50:00 PM
I don't think I'd want to reuse it if it had been dipped in acid! Disgusting and yet very, very funny!! A FAV for me, well done!!.....Pat
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Lindsay Laurie
Date: 8/31/2018 9:00:00 PM
Hello Pat … I'd be more inclined to dispose of the sixpence Pat, due to more than likely being told a little white lie about being reused - thank you Pat - Lindsay
Date: 2/15/2018 10:42:00 PM
Well, let's see what I can say? It was a silver thruppeny bit in my day. Nice to read that, that tradition is still played, Your poem awesome, evocative in many a way, So many memories of Chrismas days.Thank you! Best forever wishes... Mick
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Lindsay Laurie
Date: 8/31/2018 8:57:00 PM
G'day Mick … just found I hadn't replied to your comment. I apologize for this. The tradition is definitely alive in this home. However, we can only use pre-1966 coins, because the decimal coins are not suitable due to being alloys I think - once again, I apologize Mick - Lindsay
Date: 2/23/2016 10:27:00 PM
Oh Lindsay what a masterpiece, everything about this poem I remember so well,, when I tell the kids about the sixpence in the pudding they look at me in disgust and say how filthy is that, I suppose when you look back it was a dirty habit but it was the done thing in those days, great write my friend.......Vera
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Lindsay Laurie
Date: 3/4/2016 5:12:00 PM
Hello Vera ... yes, our Christmas traditions are sadly disappearing so the commercial world can survive. Thank you very much Vera - Lindsay
Date: 2/4/2016 6:13:00 PM
Great write Lindsay, same sixpence next year?
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Lindsay Laurie
Date: 2/10/2016 12:47:00 AM
Ha-ha Pete; I bloody hope not. Thanks mate - Lindsay
Date: 1/28/2016 7:39:00 AM
Ugh! This is another funny one. Hopefully the coin can be treated with bleach. Now we know why we are always told that money is dirty.
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Lindsay Laurie
Date: 2/10/2016 12:45:00 AM
G'day Duke ... and lose the flavour. It does make you think where coins have been - thanks mate - Lindsay
Date: 1/24/2016 7:53:00 PM
Ha ha Lindsay guessing no one will want that sixpence next year. Cute story. Al and I are still down with this virus. A very nasty one indeed. Weather turned a little nicer this week so will try and get out and enjoy some fresh air. Think we are both tired of not sleeping from all this coughing we are having. Make sure not to send me that sixpence. lol love phyl
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Lindsay Laurie
Date: 1/26/2016 9:32:00 PM
Hello Phyllis ... no, I won't send you the sixpence Phyllis. It's been retired from pudding duties. I hope you and Al are beating that nasty virus - Lindsay
Date: 1/23/2016 7:14:00 PM
hahaha, you rock ON with your great poetry. I don't care if it is not serious, THiS is MY kind of poetry!! (so what does the kid get for pooping out this money?)
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Lindsay Laurie
Date: 1/26/2016 9:28:00 PM
What does the kid get; he gets to clean the sixpence and if he doesn't do it properly we'll put it through him again. I have trouble being serious Andrea and thanks for your encouraging comment - Lindsay
Date: 1/22/2016 6:42:00 AM
Lindsay, they only go as high as a "7" but this is a 10 for sure----so I gave you a six and a four instead---Hey , I think there's a poem in there somewhere.........lol
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Lindsay Laurie
Date: 1/26/2016 8:50:00 PM
After you attacking the contests I'm sure you'll hit the scoring system with gusto - Lindsay
Date: 1/22/2016 6:36:00 AM
My Hats of to you Mate, I'm going to feed you another "7" and I hope it's not one, someone 8....lol I love your style, keep it commin'
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Lindsay Laurie
Date: 1/26/2016 8:48:00 PM
G'day Jerry ... thanks again Jerry. Sixpences are becoming scarce as hens teeth so a swallowed one is closely monitored for a tradition to continue - Lindsay
Date: 1/19/2016 7:50:00 AM
...and your wonderful storytelling is one of the reasons why somebody loves you, my friend. Another enjoyable read, Lindsay! :-)
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Lindsay Laurie
Date: 1/20/2016 6:46:00 PM
Hello Kim ... thanks for reading this poem based on our traditional Christmas pudding and I'm pleased that you enjoyed it - Lindsay
Date: 1/18/2016 1:54:00 PM
I remember the classic steam christmas pudding. Can't remember getting the money though, and maybe just as well!
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Lindsay Laurie
Date: 1/20/2016 6:43:00 PM
Hello Mark ... perhaps you swallowed the coins Mark. Thanks for your support again - Lindsay
Date: 1/18/2016 9:07:00 AM
Very entertaining, Lindsay! A sixpence is easy to miss...what about a half crown next time! // paul
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Lindsay Laurie
Date: 1/20/2016 6:36:00 PM
Hello Paul ... sixpences are gold these days. We can't use the modern decimal coins so that's why a swallowed coin is retrieved. Might choke on a half crown - Lindsay
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