Books by Ian Rogers
Books by Ian Rogers
This poem, written by Judith Jones many years ago, was collected by my wife, who unearthed it for this blog. It is dedicated to Ron Prosser of Stow Park Methodist Church who set up a ‘kitchen sink’ charity that has grown enormously with time. In 2019 it will celebrate 20 years of good work. Neither my wife nor I realised it but Ron also started Stow Park Church Printers which publishes my books.
I bought my mother a donkey,
She lives in a pensioner’s flat,
She hasn’t got room for a donkey,
She’s hardly got room for a cat.
But I bought her a donkey for Christmas,
A fine healthy beast we can see,
And his photograph stands on the bureaux,
and he’s precious to mother and me.
I bought Auntie Hilda some school books,
Although she’ll be ninety next year,
And they’re not even written in English,
But she said “That’s thoughtful, my dear”.
I bought Cousin Malcolm some medicine,
Although he’s as fit as a flea,
But he thought it was totally brilliant,
And now he’s bought medicine for me.
Medicine for tropical ailments,
To fight malnutrition and rabies,
And some of those little essentials,
To stop you from having more babies.
He’s great, Cousin Malcolm, I love him,
But he’s married to posh Cousin jean,
Who, I admit, has her moments,
So I bought Cousin Jean a latrine.
And some of my friends received chickens,
And some of my friends received seeds,
And each gift was heartily welcomed,
And answered particular needs.
Not for my friends and relations,
But for people far over the sea,
A donkey for someone in Goa,
A present from mother and me.
And if this is all still a riddle,
It’s just that you’re not in the know,
But the catalogue’s easy to come by,
I’ll give the address ’fore I go.
Health Help International still sells alternative gifts at www.hhi.org.uk. Alternatively (no pun intended) contact Stow Park Church Centre, Brynhyfryd Road, Newport, South Wales NP20 4FX, tel. 01633 671055.
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