navwin » Archives » The Corner Pub » Stolen Fruit
The Corner Pub
Post A Reply Post New Topic Stolen Fruit Go to Previous / Newer Topic Back to Topic List Go to Next / Older Topic
Joyce Johnson
Deputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Rara Avis
since 2001-03-10
Posts 9912
Washington State

0 posted 2001-03-30 11:16 AM


My daddy used to tell the tale
Of stolen watermelon.
He'd start to smile and you could see
That he enjoyed the tellin'.

Some boys he knew would find a patch
And with one kid set out to watch,
They'd grab a watermelon.

Old Farmer Jones would start to cuss,
And then come chasing after us,
I mean the kids who stole that melon.

They'd put it in a stream to cool,
Why it really makes a fella drool
To think of that watermelon.

Then he'd say it isn't right to steal
And how bad Farmer Jones must feel
To lose his watermelon.

But I gess he had about a ton.
You wouldn't think he'd miss just one,
And eating it was so much fun.
That big fat watermelon.

I wonder if that farmer knew,
Why those young fellas as they grew,
Just sorta took a shine to him.

Doc Eddie never sent him bills.
Druggist Johnny gave him pills.
Judge Tom saw no one harried him
And Reverend Harry buried him.

My daddy is a boy again.
He feels the juice upon his chin
From the sweetest fruit that's ever been.
That stolen watermelon.

By: Joyce Johnson   2000


(I know my rhyme scheme fluctuates  but so did Daddy's conscience.)  

[This message has been edited by Joyce Johnson (edited 03-31-2001).]

© Copyright 2001 Joyce I Johnson - All Rights Reserved
Trillium
Deputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Patricius
since 2001-03-09
Posts 12098
Idaho, USA
1 posted 2001-03-30 05:51 PM


Joyce:  This is a good story.  I have some tales in my family also of kids swiping watermelons.  I think they enjoy the memory as much as the did the act.

Betty Lou Hebert

coyote
Senior Member
since 2001-03-17
Posts 1077

2 posted 2001-03-30 11:09 PM


Good reading, Joyce.
Around here it was apples and chickens.
But don't ask me, why chickens?! lol
It was before my time.
I think?!

"The poet is the priest of the invisible."
Wallace Stevens

Red_Feather
Member
since 2001-01-19
Posts 131
The Vagabond Sea
3 posted 2001-03-30 11:16 PM


Let's hear it for fluctuating conscience.
This gave me a good laugh when i needed one.
Thank you.

One's not half two it's two are halves of one EE Cummings

kcsgrandma
Senior Member
since 2000-09-24
Posts 1522
Presque Isle, ME
4 posted 2001-03-30 11:38 PM


This was an enjoyable read, and I love the end note.   We have a few tales in our family, too. How clever of you to preserve this one this way!

To love another person is to see the face of God.
- Les Miserables

Marilyn

Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648

5 posted 2001-03-31 12:34 PM


This is cute Joyce! I really enjoyed this!
Joyce Johnson
Deputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Rara Avis
since 2001-03-10
Posts 9912
Washington State
6 posted 2001-03-31 01:09 AM


When I was small I was shocked by this story.  I could not believe my Daddy would ever steal.  And Mama used to hush him.  But as I grew older I realize that it is one of the few pictures he ever gave me of what his life was like in Indiana when he was a small boy.  Thanks for your comments. Joyce
2dalimit
Member Elite
since 2000-02-08
Posts 2228
Mississippi coast
7 posted 2001-03-31 08:21 AM


Great story. Boys will be boys. But, they seemed to have paid their dues.
Melton

Yu Lan
Senior Member
since 2000-04-13
Posts 1462
New Zealand
8 posted 2001-04-04 06:49 AM


Hehe, yeah, my mum always tells us of the tiem when her mother was little.. and she was caught taking fruit from the orchid.. and told not to.. so she decided that if she couldn't, her teddy could.. ^^ This is so lovely, I love tales like this.. past preserved perfectly Joyce

Lynne

"He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened." Lao-tsu

Post A Reply Post New Topic ⇧ top of page ⇧ Go to Previous / Newer Topic Back to Topic List Go to Next / Older Topic
All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format.
navwin » Archives » The Corner Pub » Stolen Fruit

Passions in Poetry | pipTalk Home Page | Main Poetry Forums | 100 Best Poems

How to Join | Member's Area / Help | Private Library | Search | Contact Us | Login
Discussion | Tech Talk | Archives | Sanctuary