Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE NEW PREACHER, by DOUGLAS MALLOCH


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE NEW PREACHER, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Seemed like the preacher wa'n't good enough
Last Line: Seems like.
Subject(s): Clergy; Priests; Rabbis; Ministers; Bishops


Seemed like the preacher wa'n't good enough;
Seemed like the parson wa'n't up to snuff.
He had queer notions and old-fashioned ways,
That once was very well in other days --
Just like a horse and buggy used to do
Before we got the car, and tractor, too --
But people now don't think the way they done,
And what was wicked once is only fun;
And so we thought he ought to take a hike,
Seemed like.

Seemed like the young folks didn't go to church
The way they ought. Dad used to use the birch
On us to git us up for Sunday school,
(But there's another thing; birch ain't the rule
No more. You tell your children what to do;
But, if they don't, your duty then is through.)
And so, to sort of git the young folks back,
We needed what our preacher seemed to lack --
A little faster gait to sort of strike,
Seemed like.

Seemed like we ought to call this other man.
Now things are boomin' on the modern plan.
There's somethin' doin' nearly every night,
Except on pray'r night -- then it's rather light.
The sermons, too, are strickly up to date,
Discussin' questions that are new and late.
But, somehow, though, you know, us older folks,
In spite of all the eloquence and jokes,
Git sort of thirsty on life's dusty pike,
Seems like.

Seems like the livin' waters do not flow
The way they used to in the long ago.
Seems like when you yourself are gittin' old,
And thinkin' more and more of streets of gold,
That half the consolation you don't git,
In spite of all the younger preacher's wit.
Seems like, for old folks gittin' near the sod,
That now and then he ought to mention God --
For that would sort of help us on the hike,
Seems like.





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