Short Cassock Poems

Limerick : Once a Cossack in tundra cassock

Once a Cossack in tundra cassock
Crept to spy on his wife : got a shock
She lay stooped in prayer
Without a stitch on her
Guess whose head was on the butcher’s block ?

© T. Wignesan – Paris, 2013...

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Parrot the Catechist
preaches to the unconverted
talks in Latin to impress the ignorant
patiently listening to innocent souls
tells stories never has been heard
in tree-cathedral, wears spectacles
to look highly learned and respected
when priest comes in cassock
flies into hiding to save face...

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burning trees in midst of heat
invited cloud to rescue them
cloud rush digging  its nose
deep into burning wild trees
but it had not carried water
its woolen dress caught fire
the legs and wings burned away
linen white cassock became soot
as cloud cried loudly for help
calling for re-enforcement
it perished in the struggle with
tears of blinding smoke in exit...

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In the river Jordan
you baptized the people,
some were brood of vipers:
pharisees, sadducees -

hey sanna hosanna,
king Herod you opposed.
You were his prisoner -
his servants cut your head.

In spirit you survived,
bashing black pharisees
even in red cassocks.
White cassock will not save

the one with black soul
and be it the vengeance,
hey sanna hosanna -
just punishment of God....

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Latin Class

it is written all over him
in words of gesture
phrases of swagger and strut.
the swirl of his cassock, proud
as he flashes into the room
Latin books at the ready.

there is a smile 
smouldering inwardly 
for only he to see.
I am wanted, he thinks, 
they do not know why.
  
his dark handsome eyes
survey a breathless room
the thorn in their girlish side.
it is safe to display illusive wares
for I am untouchable....

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He came and addressed us
in a priestly cassock and hood
eyes decorated with sage’s spectacles
shoes were those of a stage performer
and carried big diary of chairman
he talked in metaphors and ironies
and conclude his speech artistically
in parables of Christ in Mark’s gospel
pointing out,” Join the party of Christ”
Few day later I met him in a bar
“Reverend Father, thank so much.
You inspired us greatly”, I said
The sage looked me searchingly
and took off faster than he came!...

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