Taxed to the Max
After rising on Sunday morning
at the hour of stupid o’clock
to ensure The Pastor gets
to the church on time…
After sifting through music for
two services – one traditional and
sedate, like my childhood church,
the second rowdy and electrified…
After chatting with seniors who
ply me with homemade treats
and holding babies who always
want to play with my glasses…
After worship, when everyone has left,
save the pastor and spouse, I’m
perched by the back door as he
fumbles for keys and outens lights…
After trading our holy attire for
holey jeans and brewing tea, we
collapse on the couch, spent as
post-coital lovers, limp as lox.
© 2011 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
For Sunday’s Poetic Bloomings, with thanks to Marie and Walt for an interesting prompt. Also at my poetic lifeline, Poets United.
Sharp Little Pencil 
brian
ha. having been a pastor, i understand this feeling completely…
Sharp Little Pencil
Oh, that’s right! Guess I was preaching to the choir… (groan!)
Always nice to hear from those who can relate completely to a specific point of view! Thanks, Brian – and go in peace! Amy
Sherry Blue Sky
I so LOVE this!!!!!!!!!!
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Sherry. It’s the truth – we love our church dearly, but by Sunday late afternoon, we are just veal. A.
Richard Cody
Thanks for a fun read!
Sharp Little Pencil
RIchard, thanks for stopping by! I was what we call “George Herbert Walker Bushed” when I wrote it… on Sunday afternoon! Peace, Amy
pmwanken
Ah, Amy, a perfect description of the day! …and the feeling at the end: having given completely of yourself, not an ounce left to give.
Here’s mine: http://whenwordsescape.wordpress.com/2011/11/12/a-walk-in-the-park/.
~Paula
Sharp Little Pencil
Paula, it’s so true. On Sunday evenings, we are toads that have been run over by a pickup truck. Twice!! Amy
pmwanken
Thanks for your comment on mine…and yes, the crazy day did happen exactly as I recorded it in my poem. And I took that afternoon off from work and LOVED it. (…I think I’m addicted…I want to do it AGAIN!) 😉 love, P.
Sharp Little Pencil
Yeah, that’s it. Quit your job and you can do it all the time!! Just don’t get sick or need food or things like that! Love you – Amy
Daydreamertoo
LOL Sounds like a great way to unwind 😉
Sharp Little Pencil
I can put up with Sunday football as long as I can snuggle on the couch with Lex…. besides, I usually fall asleep! Thanks, hon. Amy
Poetry & Icecream
I love this take on the prompt Amy. I had a chuckle at the second line “at the hour of stupid o’clock”, lol it’s the best!!! 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
Got that from listening to Randi Rhodes. I would have credited her, but I’m not sure she coined the expression. Thanks, Norma! Amy
mish
All in a day’s work… 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
Ain’t it the truth?! 🙂 Amy
Mary
I like this a lot, Amy. Pastors and their wives are humans. You gave a good picture of this. By the way, if you ever get to the big city 60 miles to your east, let me know. I used to get to your city a lot, but haven’t in a while since my cousin who lived there has died and my nephew and niece who attended the U have graduated!
Sharp Little Pencil
Give me a hint. Is there a lot of beer there, LOL? Can’t say we get over there much… Lex’s schedule is packed and we only have one car. Which is part and parcel of being a pastoral couple. Everything close to the edge financially… we have yet to tackle his school loans in a substantive way! Yikes!
Thanks so much, Mary. Amy
Nanka
Whimsical and playfully quaint!! I find this brainstorm appealing in an amusing way especially so, as you are having a dig at yourself!! 😀
In reply to the comment you left on my blog amy:
I have been writing at the Sunday Whirl for sometime now!! Wordle #30 is up too!!
Sharp Little Pencil
Nanka, I am so behind in replies, I think I already did #30! Thanks so much. My grandma Blanche always told me if you cannot laugh at yourself, you have no right laughing at anyone else! Peace, Amy
MiskMask
Delicious, Amy. Great imagery.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks so much, Marilyn. “Delicious,” huh? Like that one… Peace, Amy
claudia
oh i can feel this…been a worship leader in our church for years..and as we had sunday services in a public school..we started by setting up the PA long before the service started and where the last to leave…ugh…hard times..still blessed times as well..
Sharp Little Pencil
Claudia, I’ve been a worship leader in past, this time just a member of the band who can sing and cover for the keyboard player/worship leader when he needs to be elsewhere. In our case, the 9 am traditional service ends around 10:15, then the band piles in and has to set up from scratch and warm up for 11:00! Chaotic but we manage to make some joyful noise. I’m surrounded by first-rate musicians, so it’s a pleasure, plus I get to hear my husband preach! All said and done, exhausting. Toughest job you’ll ever love, right? Peace, Amy
Buddah Moskowitz
This is love. Perfectly written –
ps – got your book- it’s great! BUY IT EVERYONE!
Sharp Little Pencil
Bless you, o marketing manager bruddah o’mine! Thanks for the plug!
Yes, this IS love. Love of each other, of God, of this new church. I am in LOVE with Lake Edge UCC and so blessed to be in the praise band now.
Glad you liked the chap, honey. My favorite is the Precious Box, which I think I recited for virtualpoetry. I miss my mommy!! Love, Ameleh
Andrew
My hat’s off to anyone resilient/crazy enough to be married to a pastor! You catch the Sunday vibe so well here, Amy. Limp as lox – great last line!
Sharp Little Pencil
…and vanquished as veal. Truly, we are just about gone by the time we get home! Oh, and he wasn’t a pastor when I married him… and our congregation thinks it’s cool that the pastor is married to a poet/jazz singer-songwriter. I also sing in the praise band, oy! You’re funny! Amy
Madeleine Begun Kane
Delightful, especially the final stanza. 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Mad. I thought this would appeal to my girls!! Amy