Tim the vicar said
he had something to tell us

What had he brought in?
“Yes, that’s a razor and some
shaving foam. And what about this?”

“It’s a toothbrush, sir”

“Yes, it’s a toothbrush and this is some toothpaste?”

He had also brought two
small bowls of water and
amidst the chorus of teenage derision
he proceeded to squirt
foam on to his hands and blessed it
then slapped gently against the small round face
that held his eternal grin

Dragging the razor contemplatively
across the altar of his chin
he asked what he was doing

“Shaving, sir”

“Yes, yes I’m shaving”

Picking up the tube of toothpaste
he squeezed forth a thin trail of manna
upon the brush and offered
the gift of cleanliness
to his expectant flock of teeth:
canines, incisors and last but ultimately first
wisdom, the greatest gift of all

As a first year fell from his chair,
Tim the vicar spat
lovingly into the bowl
as if it were the face
of a Galilean blind man

Then, removing the specks of Colgate
from the area above and below his lips
he adjusted his dog collar and
resumed his upright posture

“And, so, you see, what I’m saying is that
physical decay is part of a natural process.
We have to shave and brush our teeth
to look after ourselves but God
only God can look after our souls”

“The youth group is meeting
in the church hall on Friday evening
see me afterwards if you want
to know more.”

Want to comment on this Poetry? Sign up to Edit Red and you will be able to comment on Poetry and get access to: Upload your own stories and poems, get readers and their feedback, promote your work...