FALLOW

Image Courtesy of Victoria von Schaaf,
as the Artist of this beautiful Painting,
aged Eight Years,
and to whom all rights are reserved
and may not be downloaded or uploaded or pasted or otherwise produced
without the express (written) permission of the Artist
(September 5, 2014)
KTW

Dedicated to Victoria von Schaaf and to Garrett and to Nana

Mama, we love you very much

We know we’re tearaways at times

And I know I keep asking questions

But the thing is Mama

I'm nine and you’re … … (nervously)

Ah! Bro says it’s more than my life’s worth

To suggest your age

So I think I’ll agree with him

At least on this one, hey Mama!

That’s something to tell the coffee circle he-he

I've finally acknowledged that bro might

Just be right

Mostly wrong

But, well on this one, right!

Why are you smiling like that Mama?

That little dimple always comes

Usually when you’re going to tell me

The story of Pinocchio!

Now the thing is Mama

I'm now getting on a bit

And I can’t help feeling that

Teacher might be right.

Oh? And what has ‘teacher’ been saying

Young man?’

Well we were learning about

farming.

Teach’ had got this book called

Domesday

Something about a nasty Norman king

Who made everyone tell his lords

What they owned

So he could raise taxes

Now this is a bit before your time Mama

Not a lot

But Teach’ said about 1082

Which I figure is a bit of a way back

So anyway

He says that the English had

A farm based on three fields

And they rested one field every year

Now get this Mama

That meant – and I got a Gold for this

‘coz I beat the know-alls in the class

on the answer ha-ha…

No. Alright Mom I won’t gloat

But I got a Gold…

I mean come on Mama

I'm almost an Olympian!

Okay Garrett you’ve got my attention

So tell me about this fallow field

Ah cool! Wicked Mama

You ARE COOL!!!!

Well, if the field is rested every third year

It means it will grow better when

The farmer sows his crops

Or the …how did teach’ put it?

Oh yeah… that the grass would be lush

For grazing!

NOW!

Are you listening, Mama?

I mean this is important  

And as Teach’ always says (rolling of eyes)

‘Class…give me your undivided attention please

then I will continue…!’ (and doing a pretty good impersonation

which Mom decides she'll keep to herself :)  )

So… I've been thinking Mama

You know that painting you did

of Grandma-ma and you

when you were eight…?

Well I reckon you shouldn’t feel guilty

About not continuing to paint

I reckon you should paint when I read

I reckon, see, that your painting field

Has been fallow

Okay, Mama…

Maybe you have pushed the three year

Cycle a bit

But I guess that at your age there’s got

To be a bit of forgetfulness

So I don’t think that God is going to

Be annoyed

I mean I don’t think He’s even going to say anything

But I think you’ve got to … oh what do you call it Mama

When you tell me?

It’s like gift… but it’s not… it begins with the letter Tee I think

Ah yeah Wicked Mama

Got it!

Talents

You’ve got to use your talents MOM!

Now I gotta say something Mama at this stage

I've told ALL my friends that

Not only are you the best and most loving and wisest

Mama in the whole wide world…

And that you lick any other Moms up no problem…

But you can paint portraits

And have been since you were younger than me

AND they’re framed!

So there… I told ‘em.

And hey …

Mom – I've just remembered that word

Talents cropped up in Sunday school

too

I don’t know if it’s the same

But you’ve got this lovely field of talent

And it’s now coming out of fallow

And you’re going to reap a right heap big harvest

Awwww Mama

You’ve got that look again

That look that always tells me you’re gonna

Hug me

And then give me a great big ice cream

From the Freezer!!!!!!

Come on Mama

High Five me

I'm an Olympian!!!!!!!!!!

But don’t tell bro

Coz he’s only a Bronze

So he’s a small Olympian hehe

Love you with all my heart Mom

---

Mama

We know it’s not your birthday yet

But we’ve saved our money up

Got you an early pressie

Here goes

We saw your paintbrushes

And artists palette

We weren’t  sure what colours to get

So we got

Gold         because your priceless

Silver       because you’re the best

Bronze     because you’re doing well despite

                being born before the cell-phone

                Poor you Mama!

Then we got ochre and a tube I can’t pronounce

but Teach said it’s what makes trees turn different colours

in the Fall

Hey Mama – they're weird in England

They call Fall – this old-fashioned word – Or-term!

Well weird!!

I wonder if they’ve got cars yet?

8 July 2022
All Rights Reserved

© Kenneth Thomas Webb 2022

 Written 24 February 2014