»
Archives
»
Open Poetry #47
»
Say What........Why???
| Open Poetry #47 |
|
Say What........Why??? |
|
|
Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA 
|
My thanks to Klassy Lassy, who provided me with information that allowed me to pen this piece... . . . . We have so many phrases in this language that we use, So many that can be considered dumb But many have a history of logic hidden there When one discovers places they came from. You like to take your daily bath? Or maybe once a week? Five hundred years ago, 'twas not that way. The people who lived then took only one small bath a year And it was mainly in the month of May. Because of that, June was the month most marriages occured. The people were still clean...or, fairly well. The custom then was for the bride to carry a bouquet. It's purpose was to cover any smell. The baths were one large tub filled up with water, piping hot. The man bathed first, with his sons next to scrub Then mother and the daughters were the next to follow suit With babies as the last ones in the tub. By then, the water was quite dark with so much dirt washed off So dark it was impossible to see. "Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater!" was a warning given then And that is how that saying came to be. Houses had thatched roofs back then, thick straw piled high and tight And animals would nest there to stay warm. Cats and dogs and bugs and such would find some refuge there To have some good protection and stay warm. But when it stormed and hard rains came, the creatures had no chance. The driving rain would come and knock them down. The people knew that when they saw it raining cats and dogs A storm of strong proportions came to town! Bugs and other droppings also fell down from the roofs, Messing up the floors and beds, you see So they took four poles with sheets on top to stop that evil fall And that's how canopy beds had come to be. Floors were made of tiles or slate for those of wealthy means. One could judge a rich man by his floor. Those who had no money had no choice except for dirt So they were recognized to be 'dirt poor'. The slate floors that the wealthy had got slippery when wet So they spread thresh (or straw) to stop a slide But, as they piled up more and more, it got to be so much That, when doors opened up, it slipped outside. To stop the thresh from sliding out, a board was placed across The doorway that would keep the thresh inside And that became the "threshold" and the term we use today That thing we step across with our new bride!!! The meals were prepared in different methods way back then A huge pot in the kitchen was the key. They filled the pot with vegetables and anything they could And it was used to feed the family. Each day they added to the broth, more vegetables and stuff And lit the fire below to get it hot. For days that stewy mixture fed both family and friend And everyone enjoyed 'peas, porridge hot'. At times, the husband brought home pork or bacon, if they could They'd hang it up for all their friends to see Thus, 'bringing home the bacon' was a term they used back then To celebrate a man's prosperity. The rich man's plates were made of pewter,very nice indeed But foods too high in acid poisoned some. Tomatoes were considered poison for 400 years A fact that, looking back, was pretty dumb! Bread was given out by status. That's how it was cut Workers got the bottom, which was just. The family got the middle, or the meat part of the loaf While guests and rich folks got the 'upper crust'. Lead cups were used to drink their whiskey. Not a smart thing there. They'd get so snockered they would pass right out. Their family would find them there, alive or dead, who knows? And on the table they would lay them out. For days, the family would watch them for some signs of life. They'd eat and drink and have some pie and cake While seeing if their loved ones were alive and would wake up And that is why this time was called a 'wake'. England didn't have much space for burying it's dead. Old graves were dug up and then used again.. They noticed there were scratch marks on the inside of the lids From prematurely-buried, desperate men. So they tied a string to wrists of corpses to prevent that act, Then, in the coffin lid they made a hole, Ran the string up through the ground until it reached the top Attached it to a small bell on a pole. At night, a guard was placed on duty, listening, in case Some poor soul buried there was still alive And thus those on the 'graveyard shift' would listen for the bell And help some lucky person to survive. Occasionally, it happened, and the people cheated fate At times the system worked out very well And, every time it happened, there were shouts and cries of joy For the person who had been 'saved by the bell.' Yes, there are many origins for terms we use today It's fun to find out what they all come from. Some of them are terrifying, some of them are sad And some of them, like these, are really dumb!  |
||
| © Copyright 2011 Michael Mack - All Rights Reserved | |||
|
ethome Member Patricius
since 2000-05-14
Posts 11858New Brunswick Canada |
Michael I certainly had to smile all the way through this. Love how it flows along with each segment. Do you remember the really old folk song that went, If I had my druthers I'd druther eat a big fat bug Then take my Saturday night bath In the old galvinized wash tub. Apperently he was the last one in to bath in a family of 12. I remember those old galvinized tubs. This piece is great and a lot of fun! Eric true love never looks after it's own interests |
||
|
serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
I love this sorta stuff.Well done! A tip of the hat to Klassy Lassy as well.  |
||
|
Lori Grosser Rhoden Member Patricius
since 2009-10-10
Posts 10202Fair to middlin' of nowhere |
What a treat 'deer! This was fun. I knew a few of these but had no idea about most of them. It was a real delight. thank you Lori |
||
|
Margherita Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236Eternity |
Oh my, what an "enlightening" write! Enjoyed this very much, dear Michael. Makes us shake our heads, but those were some incredible realities! Excellent. Love, Margherita |
||
|
Richy Member Elite
since 2003-05-03
Posts 3050 |
Oh my gosh my friend, I think this is my absolute favorite of your's! I'm going to be rereading this one many, many more times... it is so chockfull of knowledge and artful fun. You really outdid yourself Michael, you should be proud... he's back, and he's not taking any prisoners neither! Because of that, June was the month most marriages occured. The people were still clean...or, fairly well. The custom then was for the bride to carry a bouquet. It's purpose was to cover any smell. Oh my god! lol Have a great day friend, thanks for the big smile! Richard |
||
|
Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Eric...I have to say I don't remember that one...but I'm a lot younger than you!  Glad you enjoyed!Serenity gal...I love it, too. Thank you... Lori....thank you for enjoying my treat. I appreciate you! Margherita...they certainly were! (and not all that much fun at times!) Richy....VERY glad you enjoyed! Get ready for more. I just found a book of these facts and I'm working on more. They get my muse kickin' again and they're fun |
||
|
latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
Only you can do these old tales justice.Enjoyed. jo |
||
|
twistedpup Member
since 2011-02-25
Posts 115 |
facinating. i enjoyed it. nice write. *hugs* |
||
|
katahdin Senior Member
since 2010-07-01
Posts 1196ME. In the Shadow of the Mt. |
Enjoyed very much! Kat >^..^< |
||
|
Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Thank you, friends. Your enjoyment is a fine reward |
||
|
Richy Member Elite
since 2003-05-03
Posts 3050 |
That sounds fantastic Mike, looking forward to it! |
||
|
Spiros Zafiris Senior Member
since 2002-10-20
Posts 982Canada |
..very well-written; much enjoyed..spiros |
||
|
Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
I've read the gist of these before, but not of course, in poetic fashion. It's amazing how many of our sayings go so far back in time! |
||
Mysteria 
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Well Karilea he would know them all, as he goes pretty far back in time himself.  Lordy, Lordy, we agree yet again? The man bathed first, with his sons next to scrub Then mother and the daughters were the next to follow suit Some of us are still to this day taking our men's dirt, You're absolutely right!!  Wonderful tale you tell Sir Balladeer. |
||
|
Word Weaver Member
since 2011-03-06
Posts 437California, USA |
You never cease to amaze me. You had me glued to your words from beginning to end. I can't imagine starting a day without a shower but this is now and you wrote about then. One thing is for sure, I'll never again look at a wedding bouguet in the same way. |
||
|
Earth Angel Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215Realms of Light |
Thanks to the Klassy One for steering you onto these sayings. I got quite a kick out of some of them. Who'd have thunk it!  Remember, "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing." ~ So you best learn a lot more of those sayings and proverbs and share your knowledge by writing more of them ~ just to be on the safe side!   Linda |
||
|
|
⇧ top of page ⇧ |
|
| All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format. | ||
