The Mustard Plaster

When I was a kid, home remedies were the thing!
No trip to the doctor for a cold or bad cough..
Mama had a fix for near every hurt, big or small
or in between. The worst, the most dreadful, the
run and hide treatment..the Mustard Plaster!
Some flannel cut into big, big strips...Cover with
mustard until it drips..into the oven to get 
steaming hot..then slap that sucker on the spot.
Around your chest, fastened tight..must keep
it hot..althrough the night...It burned, it itched, and it
smelled to high heaven..Who knows if it helped at all..
but I do know that we learned not to voice 
minor discomfort..it had to be a real disaster..
cause if you complained.out came the Mustard Plaster!...

Copyright © | Year Posted 2010



Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Date: 9/29/2010 12:14:00 AM
Hahaha you cracked me up- Congrats on the win
Login to Reply
Date: 9/17/2010 8:07:00 AM
Eww, haha actually this is the first time I've ever heard of mustard plaster-- very interesting! Super Congrats on your win :)-- nikko :)
Login to Reply
Date: 9/17/2010 7:03:00 AM
Congratulations Barbara on your win in Deborah Guzzi's contest "The Road to Well Ville" Love, Carol
Login to Reply
Date: 9/17/2010 5:37:00 AM
What a torture to tie flannel with mustard. Loved your work. many congratulations for this win.
Login to Reply
Date: 9/16/2010 8:10:00 PM
AWesome way to describe a dreaded cure, Barbara. I have no idea how Deb was able to judge all these great entries, but congrats on your high place. LUv, Andrea
Login to Reply
Date: 9/16/2010 5:35:00 PM
Congratulations Barbara on your #3 mustard cure. Agape, Moses
Login to Reply
Date: 9/16/2010 5:29:00 PM
Congrats BG on your big win in Deb's contest with this great poem... enjoy another big win tonight with luv..
Login to Reply
Date: 9/16/2010 3:53:00 PM
I never had one of these, but heard a lot about them. But I do remember Mom rubbing Vicks over my chest, and then putting flannel over the sticky goo, tying it around my neck, and sleeping like that many a night! Long before Nyquil and all the other things came along. Perhaps we were better off then? Who knows!! Great poem, Barbara!! :)
Login to Reply
Date: 9/16/2010 3:30:00 PM
Congratulations on your win. I too remember the infamous mustard plaster, but my mom pulled me out of pneumonia twice with them. This was before antibiotics. Love, Joyce
Login to Reply
Date: 9/16/2010 2:55:00 PM
I knew this would be a winner, LNC. Congratulations! Love, Carolyn
Login to Reply
Date: 8/27/2010 6:42:00 PM
ohh yeah! my gram did this to me once? but I don't remember anything but the smell? OH yes! It did work! I felt like I could breath better! Thanks for the contest support! Light & Love
Login to Reply
Date: 8/26/2010 9:40:00 PM
I remember those days. You never went to a doctor unless it was very serious. Those mustard plasters were nice and hot. Sure glad they found penicillian for us folks. God Bless Phyl
Login to Reply
Date: 8/26/2010 5:39:00 PM
funny...mom has the caster oil story...
Login to Reply
Date: 8/26/2010 1:35:00 PM
You had me laughing out loud! I wouldn't even mention I felt ill if I knew the dreaded Mustard Plaster would be used for treatment. I never heard of this remedy, but you described it well and I'm sure you feared it as a kid. Awesome poem for my favorites, LNC. Love, Carolyn
Login to Reply
Date: 8/26/2010 1:28:00 PM
Ha ha ha..there is a lot of true life poetry on the board today...enjoyed your misfortune..cheers.
Login to Reply
Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Reflection on the Important Things

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
Store
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter
Hide Ad