linda on simply snickers posted the following photo as part of her weekly poetry prompt,, and although i have not written anything new to accompany it,, nor does it incorporate the words that she made available this week i though i would drag this little story out of the archives of just paisley…. for those of you that have never seen it before…
Le Dejeuner des Canotiers
(The Luncheon of the Boating Party)
by Pierre-Auguste Renoir
twas the same semblance of the parsonage every sunday.. had it not been for the antics of the crenolyn sisters,, i fear,, it would have resulted in a ghastly bore…
week after week we assembled,, more out of circumstance than actual desire,, the luncheon spread,, the wine poured and the conversations quiet and conservative…
that is until the dishes began to be cleared,, and the wine continued to pour…
it was just such a sunday,, quite a while back,, you know,, i cannot reveal exactly how far back as that might give you some circumference with with to determine my age,, and as you know,, a lady never reveals her age… but none the less….
it was just such a sunday we were gathered,, at le gare,, there on the great rivers edge.. there was,, as i have stated the usual bunch,, the vespers and the creatons.. the angliers and the renaults.. and then of course the crenolyn sisters,, merced and ann marie,, surrounded as usual,, by a myriad of local men from about the parish,, young and old,, shy and randy,, each of them, insisting on wine,, more wine,, and yet more wine,, until it was evident the sisters had become pliable enough,,, and it was then my friend,, yes it was precisely then that the fun i am referring to would begin….
the sisters would inevitably have been spreading about the glimmer of hope that they either singularly or as a duo,, would make themselves available for dancing,, and one never could be sure how much more,, and just about the time the four piece would arrive,, alas,, the tumult would begin…
the men young and old,, you will notice i have not used the term gentleman,, as i doubt there was one in the bunch,, would salivate around them,, pecking and pawing,, scratching like a great crew of game cocks preparing to spar over the two available hens… inevitably,, amidst the wine,, and the merriment,, and the prospect of a song,, the sunday best would come off,, the chests would puff up,, the strutting would begin,, the tempers would flare,, and the arguments and physicality would indeed take hold…..
it was then,, in the spirit of keeping the peace that lord vespers would take it upon himself to call for a lorry,, and as the raucous ensued,, he would personally usher the sisters,, agape and aghast that their feminine mystique had yet again uprooted such a angst ridden rivalry among the men folk,, and off they would be carried,, back home,, alone.. all the drunker and none the wiser to sleep it off yet again in the arms of no one,, lest you count each other,, which is exactly what those of us in the know chose then,, and still all these years later,, choose to believe……
pity isn’t it… neither of them ever did marry.. still together,, the two of them,, as far as i know….
June 16th, 2008 at 5:53 am
Raucous fun. Great description. Loved this.
Linda
http://simplysnickers.blogspot.com
June 16th, 2008 at 6:44 am
Witty and sly, bawdy and fun. Such a delightful way to pass a Sunday.
June 16th, 2008 at 7:26 am
Ah, yes, the Crenolyn sisters… I remember them well. Both seemed to get the vapors upon that third glass of wine. Ha! Nice job, Paisley!
June 16th, 2008 at 7:38 am
“:agape and aghast that their feminine mystique had yet again uprooted such a angst ridden rivalry among the men folk,”
does it mean that all rivalry amongst men are triggered by a feminine mystique?
June 16th, 2008 at 7:56 am
I would have loved to see the antics of the sisters without that party pooper! What a fun party that would have been.
June 16th, 2008 at 10:33 am
as perfect a piece of witticism one could hope to emulate.
June 16th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Wickedly funny … with subtle hints of Flannery O’Connor, yet dry to the palate as the humor of Mark Twain!
June 16th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Yes, really enjoyed this, Jodi.
June 16th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
love the painting
but me a dega and delicroix man
June 16th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
clever & fun. love the voice and tone in this.
June 16th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
This was terrific, Jodi. I felt swept into another world a la F Scott Fitzgerald.
June 16th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
A wonderful foray into an historic time and place, yes it does go well with the painting. Entertaining too, with a sly mystery at the end.
June 17th, 2008 at 1:28 am
paisley,
Ah…my dearest Paisley, I love your prose as much as your poetry. They both are a reflection of your insight in to the heart of mankind as well as your talent as a wordsmith!
rel
June 17th, 2008 at 4:38 am
Cheeky voice of old! A joyful frolic with words!
Hugs Giggles
June 17th, 2008 at 6:29 am
And everyone thinks that all the folks of that generation were so prim, proper, and stuffy. Your piece proves otherwise.
-Nicole
June 17th, 2008 at 10:41 am
Under the surface…
A great take on the painting – the words full of humor – cheeky and wise!
June 17th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
I love the narrator in this bit, the dryness and wittiness with which the story is told, the pure simplicity and remarks, wonderful.
June 17th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
What a delicious frolic this piece is. Reminds me a bit of Oscar Wilde!
June 17th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Devilishly good. I feel all a-twitter!
June 21st, 2008 at 4:58 am
Love the chit chat devilment of this!
June 25th, 2008 at 3:37 am
Wonderful story, vivid characterizations, memorable setting. Brings back childhood memories of watching the drunken antics of clueless adults who demanded, to no avail, my respect.