i need to research poetry and readings sutible for a christening/name giving ceremony. finding it hard to get any ideas....anyone any quick ways to access this subject. many thanks, and love the works.

Here you go Deb:

[tinyurl.com]


Les

A Bush Christening
by A.B. ('Banjo') Paterson (1864-1941)

On the outer Barcoo where the churches are few,
And men of religion are scanty,
On a road never cross’d ’cept by folk that are lost,
One Michael Magee had a shanty.

Now this Mike was the dad of a ten year old lad,
Plump, healthy, and stoutly conditioned;
He was strong as the best, but poor Mike had no rest
For the youngster had never been christened.

And his wife used to cry, “If the darlin’ should die
Saint Peter would not recognise him.”
But by luck he survived till a preacher arrived,
Who agreed straightaway to baptise him.

Now the artful young rogue, while they held their collogue,
With his ear to the keyhole was listenin’,
And he muttered in fright, while his features turned white,
“What the divil and all is this christenin’?”

He was none of your dolts, he had seen them brand colts,
And it seemed to his small understanding,
If the man in the frock made him one of the flock,
It must mean something very like branding.

So away with a rush he set off for the bush,
While the tears in his eyelids they glistened —
“’Tis outrageous,” says he, “to brand youngsters like me,
I’ll be dashed if I’ll stop to be christened!”

Like a young native dog he ran into a log,
And his father with language uncivil,
Never heeding the ‘praste’ cried aloud in his haste,
“Come out and be christened, you divil!”

But he lay there as snug as a bug in a rug,
And his parents in vain might reprove him,
Till his reverence spoke (he was fond of a joke)
“I’ve a notion,” says he, “that’ll move him.”

“Poke a stick up the log, give the spalpeen a prog;
Poke him aisy — don’t hurt him or maim him,
‘Tis not long that he’ll stand, I’ve the water at hand,
As he rushes out this end I’ll name him.”

“Here he comes, and for shame! ye’ve forgotten the name —
Is it Patsy or Michael or Dinnis?”
Here the youngster ran out, and the priest gave a shout —
“Take your chance, anyhow, wid ‘Maginnis’!”

As the howling young cub ran away to the scrub
Where he knew that pursuit would be risky,
The priest, as he fled, flung a flask at his head
That was labelled ‘MAGINNIS’S WHISKY’!

And Maginnis Magee has been made a J.P.,
And the one thing he hates more than sin is
To be asked by the folk, who have heard of the joke,
How he came to be christened ‘Maginnis’!

Another one, which might be quotable at celebrations shortly after a baptism/christening, provided all those present - including the officiant - have the right sense of humour and are feeling merry:

'How Cruel Of The Clergyman'
by The Rev. S. J. Forrest

How cruel of the clergyman
To take a tiny tot
And fetter it with promises
That do not mean a jot
And then to splash it in the face
With water, cold and plain.
When christening a battleship
At least they use champagne.

How cruel of the clergyman
To comment on my sin
And say that I am all defiled
And need a wash within.
The other places where I deal
All set me on a perch.
‘The customer is always right’.
So should it be in church!

If you quote both verses, to get the best effect, I'd reverse their order.

Ian



Post Edited (10-29-04 17:26)