by Cherie Lashway
There once was a logger, named Paddy O'Connell,
Who at lunch during Lent, found himself at McDonalds,
And had just settled down to his Big Mac and fries,
When along came his priest, much to both their surprise.
The priest said to Paddy, "Just what are you eating?
In this season of Lent, I sure hope you're not cheating."
Paddy said to the Father, "I'll tell you no lies.
I'm enjoying a Big Mac, along with some fries."
The priest said to Paddy, "I see no repentance.
Because of this sin, you will have to do penance.
"By Friday or sooner, I say that you should,
For our fireplace, deliver a cord of chopped wood."
Now our timberman, Paddy, an overworked man,
Did think to himself, "I don't think that I can."
But early on Friday, our priest, he heard shoveling,
And looked out the window at Paddy not groveling.
And saw with confusion, dismay and disgust,
That the wood bin was now almost filled with saw dust.
He called down below, barely hiding his ire:
"Hey Paddy, your penance was wood for the fire!"
To which Paddy said, rising up from his work,
While wiping his brow and concealing a smirk:
"I've brought you a cord, like you said that I should,
But if burger be meat, well then sawdust be wood!"
"Lenten Dissent" by Cherie Lashway.
From the Writer's Almanac.
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