CARDINALS

CARDINAL SIN

I had come from Illinois

to charm and not annoy

on very special business

from his holy papal eminence

to tell our Mainestream flock –

all those of solid stock –

that spring had truly come

but it seems the call was bum

for the sunshine’s turned to snow

and my rochet, you should know,

that matches all this white

I left at home last night.

Wearing red was right I thought –

given spring I really ought!

Cassock and biretta

felt significantly better.

and to add a little show

a touch of zucchetto

But God has a happy play

changing weather every day.

We do not know His plan

but an environmental scan

shows I’m conspicuous in red!

Must wing it on my way

lest a predator, let us say

or a creditor, comes along

and unaware of cardinal sin

eats me, there and then!

It took me many winters

of hard work, bent knees,

prayer and supplication

on stone steps,

of minding the sheep,

conducting myself

with circumspection,

a priest among fellows

not all blessed

with the absence of jealousy,

writing acceptable material

for papal endorsement

and publication,

of imperceptibly growing older -

before I became a cardinal.

Thus this had been my ambition.

But when the day came

for my ordination

I wondered if what

was left of me

to take the vows

was me.