Gabriel's Hounds

[AuntShecky]

Gabriel’s Hounds

They're comical
in their gawky, geese-y way,
toddling aimlessly,
like rejects from a choir
or extras from a chorus line,

always in the quest
for holy water –
a drainage pond here,
an impromptu puddle there.

Between the bullet and
the Bow they survive and
would pray if they could
(both in English and en Québécois.)

Instead an angry howl,
a gaggle of trumpets
not yet tuned.

Meanwhile missed grace
assumes a guise
of flight, a true
arrow pointing
toward Judgment Day.

All Rights Reserved.

[PrinceMyshkin]

Gabriel’s Hounds

They're comical
in their gawky, geese-y way,
toddling aimlessly,
like rejects from a choir
or extras from a chorus line,

always in the quest
for holy water –
a drainage pond here,
an impromptu puddle there.

Between the bullet and
the Bow they survive and
would pray if they could
(both in English and en Québécois.)

Instead an angry howl,
a gaggle of trumpets
not yet tuned.

Meanwhile missed grace
assumes a guise
of flight, a true
arrow pointing
toward Judgment Day.

All Rights Reserved.

I love the unforced, humorous, affectionate images but especially the novelty of the subject matter. And, albeit an Anglo-Quebecker, I appreciate your recognition that what my compatriots speak is a species of French all their own, somewhat disparagingly referred to as "Joual" because of the colloqual way they pronounce "cheval".

Ever been up here? And savoured "poutine"? Rooted for les habitants?

[AuntShecky]

As much as I want to go there, I can't because I don't have
a passport. (I live relatively close to the border, as well!)
Meantime all we have are les Canada geese. . .I miss the
Expos; root for the Blue Jays, especially every time they play the hated Yankees.

[Auzel]

Gabriel’s Hounds
Between the bullet and
the Bow they survive and
would pray if they could
(both in English and en Québécois.)


All Rights Reserved.


I quite certainly like this bit, finding the last part quite funny. The subject is potrayed very well. And in response to AuntShecky I advise you to get your passport and go as soon as possible. Passports aren't that hard to get, I remember when I was younger you really didnt need them that badly to go not until 9/11 did they become a must have. Either way I've been their around 6 times and each time I loved it, I can't quite remember the name but I once I went to a butterfly conservatory and I was just blow away at the beauty but mabye thats just me being a girl even so you should still visit atleast once

[Virgil]

A very good poem Aunty. I don't see anything to quibble with. I really liked this stanza:

Between the bullet and
the Bow they survive and
would pray if they could
(both in English and en Québécois.)

[jon1jt]

This is solid all around, Aunt, and contains the polish and punchy witticisms that make for a great poem. My favorite lines - and I'm not just pulling them out of the hat, I really really like them - are:


Instead an angry howl,
a gaggle of trumpets
not yet tuned.

[ampoule]

I think this is darling. I love these hounds and the way in which you portray them. I live close to a small lake and can hear them from my upstairs window. They seem to love it here.
Wonderful poem.

[AuntShecky]

Thank you, all. I found the term, Gabriel's Hounds, in a reference book when I was looking up material about narrators, posted somewhere on this forum. It was a bit
of shock to learn that Gabriel's Hounds was once a term for our beloved wild geese (evidently in Europe, not necessarily the Canadian geese who frequent upstate NY)
The honking the wild geese make is said to be the howls of the souls of unbaptised babies, who will be "freed" upon
Judgment Day. Hence, the religious allusions in the little piece, but all of you are correct in considering it to be intentionally humorous.
Thank you all for your comments!

[Caravaggio]

I got a good chuckle from reading this, well done :D.

[Scube]

Nicely done; I enjoyed it a lot.