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The Fruit of Dissapointment

The Fruit of Disappointment


      In my garden there is a tree that I planted when it was new,
      It was just a tiny sapling then and grew and grew and grew.
      But on this tree, although very high, of fruit there were far too few
      'Till an ancient gardener spoke to me and told me what to do.

      He said, “Find a nest of the Scritch Scratch bird and take a twig or two
      And make a posset of Dwindle Weed and a pot of Norridge stew.”
      I found Dwindle Weed and a Norridge Plant for the recipe he knew
      And with the gathered twigs around the tree a circle I then drew.

      Into the circle, as the old man told, the mixture I then threw.
      “Now,” he said, “You must wait a year and there'll be fruit for you.”
      “Fifty pounds is all I need, then I'll return when the fruit is due.”
      No fruit set upon that tree and for many years was overdue.

      The ancient gardener did not return and so I thought, “I'll sue.”
      But the gardener was never found, or the fifty pounds I blew.

            Barry Stebbings
              29/10/16
Copyright © | Year Posted 2016

Poem

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January 15, 2017 at 6:51 AM
All the others already said everything important to your poem, I only want to add that I enjoy listening to your readings, so if you are going to add more readings to your poems, you've found yourself a fan :)
Stebbings Avatar
January 15, 2017 at 7:57 AM
Thank you very much, Darren. // Barry
Hoffman Avatar
November 14, 2016 at 8:52 AM
That gardener sold you a lemon of a recipe! Great title and great story telling Barry!:)
Stebbings Avatar
November 14, 2016 at 1:20 PM
Thank you, Cheryl. Barry
Ball Avatar
October 31, 2016 at 8:57 PM
A cute poem with a moral to it. I love a poem that says something. The moral here: If it sounds strange and makes no sense don't listen to it. My husband found something on the internet that said to fertilize your trees with ashes so he did and killed our choke cherry tree. A little common sense goes a long way Great job here. God Bless and a seven from me. JB
Stebbings Avatar
November 1, 2016 at 6:12 AM
Oh, no! Sorry about the tree. Pleased you enjoyed it, thank you for the 7. Barry.
Dietrich Avatar
October 30, 2016 at 5:47 PM
now THAT was a disappointment indeed. Just who did that ancient dude think he was fooling? Great little story, Barry
Stebbings Avatar
November 1, 2016 at 6:11 AM
Thank you, Andrea.
Turner Avatar
October 29, 2016 at 9:37 AM
And the moral is...a fifty pound note will buy a lot of BS. Very funny, Barry. I love the humor!
Stebbings Avatar
October 29, 2016 at 12:31 PM
ha, ha, ha. Thank you, Daniel. Barry
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