If You’ve Ever: A Whimfield Poem
Posted on 19. Nov, 2009 by Laura-Jane - Whimfield in Personal, Prince Edward Island
If you’ve ever brought us produce
If you’ve ever offered me tea
If you’ve ever given us a television
or a delivery of magazines
If you’ve ever blown out our driveway
If you’ve given us disc and harrow
If you’ve ever given us pickles: crisp, long and narrow
If you’ve ever invited us in for a cup of steaming joe
Let us join your Christmas gathering
or stood in our hall while I held the door on your toe
If you’ve ever sent us invitations
stood on our stoop
loaned us saws or boots
pulled us out of a snowbank
delivered pre-screened newspapers to our mailbox
given us a call
left a comment
stopped by to say hi
If you’ve ever done any of these things
And wondered, Why, Why, Why
Why hasn’t that Whimfield couple
dropped by for tea
invited you over for dinner
sent you a card
returned that email
dropped by to chat or
returned the favour
It’s because our house is messy
And we don’t have a kitchen
nor kitchen table
nor kitchen sink, for that matter
It’s because I’m easily overwhelmed
Because the goodness of neighbours makes me eyes bulge and my head go spinning
So if you’ve ever wondered Why, Why, Why
Please understand
That’s it’s not easy for me to leave this house
That I’ve got a running list of friends and neighbours and good deeds unreturned
But one day, I am certain, I will come a-calling
Dedicated to my friend J. Collicott-McGuigan, whose poem “Why, Why, Why” seems to have inspired this poem (of sorts)!
N&M
Nov 19th, 2009
grandma would be proud!
Arenda
Nov 19th, 2009
I notice the island-slang creeping into your language! hehe!
Laura-Jane - Whimfield
Nov 19th, 2009
Island slang #1: How yous doing? (Two people)
Island slang #2: How are you NOW? (Aka “Hi”)
And my favourite Island slang: Gate (where your driveway meets the road)
dave
Nov 20th, 2009
“go way”
Ben
Nov 21st, 2009
good people help out cause they want too!
not to get somethings in returns.don’t worry no one is counting.
Ben
George
Nov 19th, 2009
Hi Laura
You left the house this summer and met the wife and I and I can only say it was at true pleasure to have met you and to this day I still love your blog and island life you talk about.
And I think that youself and Caneron are looky to live this dream.
In Ontario here the stress is getting to me and the island sound better every day.
Thanks for letting use read about your lives on the island.
George
Vicki
Nov 19th, 2009
You may recall some very wise words “One step at a time”. Miss you lots.
Kim
Nov 22nd, 2009
I can SO relate.
Our community has a local newsletter and I keep meaning to thank all our neighbors in it …