a Poem for Shrove (Pancake) Tuesday

a Poem for Shrove (Pancake) Tuesday

People toss pancakes - and do not know the reason why. Russians know: they eat pancakes for a whole week before the Great Fast before Easter, Lent in English, from and old word for spring. In Russia meat, fish, eggs and finally dairy products are taken out of the diet in the lean weeks before Easter. It used to be the same in the west as well. People ate pancakes to use up the eggs and milk. Now we're being told to give up the use of mobile phones and i-pods for the next six weeks.
But, Shrove Tuesday. Another old world. It has almost disappeared now, apart from to give someone short shrift. To shrieve means to receive absolution or forgiveness of sins from a priest. So, Shrove Tuesday is the day to make a clean sweep of kitchen and soul for Lent. Here's hoping!
Here's a poem for Shrove Tuesday, called, yes:

Shrieving

It is the eve of Lent. I sit
alone,
eating dark chocolate,
sipping wine.
Thoughts turn within my mind:
words I would unsay.

The chocolate's a gift, the wine,
but mine
the memories strewn
like crumbled washing round the room,
with ironing to be done,
and folded all, tidied away.