Sunday Kipling

Another week come and gone. It's a little dismaying how quickly time seems to slip away the older I get. Ah, such is life and on the whole I prefer it to the alternative.

Today is a day of rest. The entire household has been under the weather all week though some things must progress regardless.

I think my phone is dying. It self dialed Car Guy a couple of times at O dark thirty in spite of the fact that it was not in use at the time. I'm such a Luddite I have no idea what to do beyond keeping it turned off until I need it or simply getting something new. I hate these stupid things.

The weather seems to be turning. We've had a week of mild temperatures along with quite a bit of overcast, wind and rain. It's comfortable if a little irritating at times. Still, after a very hot summer we're looking forward to Fall.

I hope this day finds you all hale and whole. Take some time for yourself and remember that all batteries need recharging from time to time. Lu and I send you all our best, today and every day. We treasure your friendship. It's comforting to know one has so many friends across the nation who will always have your back. Love is more precious than gold or jewels.
Six

Natural Theology

               Primitive


I ate  my fill of a whale that died
    And stranded after a month at sea.
There is a pain in my inside.
  Why have the Gods afflicted me?
Ow!   I am purged till I am a wraith!
 Wow!   I am sick till I cannot see!
What is the sense of Religion and Faith 
  Look how the Gods have afflicted me!


                 Pagan

How can the skin of rat or mouse hold
  Anything more than a harmless flea?
The burning plague has taken my household.
  Why have my Gods afflicted me?
All my kith and kin are deceased,
  Though they were as good as good could be,
I will out and batter the family priest,
  Because my Gods have afflicted me!


              Medi/Eval

My privy and well drain into each other
  After the custom of Christendie
Fevers and fluxes are wasting my mother
  Why has the Lord afflicted me?
The Saints are helpless for all I offer
  So are the clergy I used to fee.
Henceforward I keep my cash in my coffer,
  Because the Lord has afflicted me.


              Material

I run eight hundred hens to the acre
  They die by dozens mysteriously. 
I am more than doubtful concerning my Maker,
  Why has the Lord afflicted me?
What a return for all my endeavour
  Not to mention the L. S. D!
I am an atheist now and for ever,
  Because this God has afflicted me!


              Progressive

Money spent on an Army or Fleet
  Is homicidal lunacy.   
My son has been killed in the Mons retreat,
  Why is the Lord afflicting me?
Why are murder, pillage and arson
  And rape allowed by the Deity?
I will write to the Times, deriding our parson
  Because my God has afflicted me.


                 Chorus

We had a kettle: we let it leak:
  Our not repairing it made it worse.
We haven't had any tea for a week.
  The bottom is out of the Universe!


                Conclusion

This was none of the good Lord's pleasure,
   For the Spirit He breathed in Man is free;
But what comes after is measure for measure,
   And not a God that afflicteth thee.
As was the sowing so the reaping
  Is now and evermore shall be.
Thou art delivered to thine own keeping.
  Only  Thyself hath afflicted thee!