This Poem was Submitted By: Marcia McCaslin On Date: 2004-04-19 00:01:52 . . . Click Here To Mail this Poem to a Friend!

To Listen to Music While Reading this Poem, just Click Here!

Click Here To add this poem to your "Voting Possibilities" list!


Eye Hath Not Seen

I watched a $50,000 truffle dog on       the Food Channel.   He sniffed out truffles that sell for  $200 a pound. I may never have truffles here on earth, but I do believe that, at the Marriage Supper    of the Lamb, there will be: truffles fried  and truffles pie’d,  truffles breaded, stuffed and dried,   creamy truffles casseroled, truffles hot, and truffles cold,  truffles candled béchamel,   More than earthly tongue can tell, Truffles lost in butter sauce,  In a salad, deftly tossed,   In a bread, homemade and baked, In a sweet dessert, square-caked,  Dinner entrée, breakfast fare--   We will see them everywhere!          And I like believing  that the truffle dog will be there--   the sleek, devoted, friend-to-man--     begging scraps, like all dogs,        on either side of heaven.   

Copyright © April 2004 Marcia McCaslin


This Poem was Critiqued By: Jennifer j Hill On Date: 2004-05-05 11:46:39
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.81250
Marcia, You have quite the imagination! This is just wonderful. I can just picture that dog rolling in the truffles like my dog rolls in ...um well the grass. lol sorry... What grand imagry you evoke! This piece flows incredably well, too. Being a chocolate addict, I really would like it if this chocolate heaven wish came true! Thanks for putting this crazy thought in my head. Blessings, Jennifer


This Poem was Critiqued By: Sherri L Smith On Date: 2004-04-30 20:33:09
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 8.57143
Dear Marcia, What a clever little poem and so humorous. Yes the truffle dog will be there, I believe that my pets will be there waiting for me in heaven. Especially my little dog Doc that I couldn't take with me when I moved out and away from my first husband. He was given away and I believe that he died of a broken heart. I loved him very much. I enjoyed this very much Marcia, so glad to see you back and active on the link. Sherri
This Poem was Critiqued By: Wayne R. Leach On Date: 2004-04-23 21:41:34
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.62687
Marcia, Delicious and rhythmic, a wonderful read. Although I'm no cook, nor a connisseur of fine foods, I did enjoy being about these delicacies in such a melodious poem. Maybe we'll enjoy them together - on the other side! The only thing I might suggest is the huge detail of maybe deleting one comma from the last stanza - the one after "scraps". Other than that, I wouldn't touch a thing. Nice! Best wishes. Wayne
This Poem was Critiqued By: Thomas Edward Wright On Date: 2004-04-20 22:40:04
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.45238
I'm on my way over, warm up the griddle. Cute piece, MM. tw
This Poem was Critiqued By: Sherri L. West On Date: 2004-04-19 13:58:47
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.36364
Hi Marcia, What a clever piece. I really enjoyed reading it. At the end of the 2nd stanza, I really expected "Sam, I am" to show up! The rhyme scheme really makes that stanza pop. It is fun to think what heaven might be like and since we are on the subject....maybe there will be non-stop shopping without aching feet and credit card limits! Thanks for making me smile. Blessings, Sherri
This Poem was Critiqued By: Joanne M Uppendahl On Date: 2004-04-19 13:32:17
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
Oh, Marica!! You have really tickled my funny bone (or truffle-tongue?) with this delightful, Suess-ian frolic. Not only is it hilarious but uplifting. The very freshness of this piece would be a difficult thing to achieve had you not been inspired (or flummoxed) by the enormous price and incredible attention paid to this rare delicacy when - I have to say it - many children in the world die each day of starvation for the lack of even basic food such as rice or milk. I watched a $50,000 truffle dog on the Food Channel. He sniffed out truffles that sell for $200 a pound. I may never have truffles here on earth, but I do believe that, at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, there will be: I've never seen a 'truffle dog'--and the thought occurs to me, I wonder what the smell could compare to? I located (dug up?) an article on 'truffs' based on the curiosity your poem stirred in me, at http://www.beyond.fr/themes/truffles.html -- << The truffle harvester, we'll call him Antoine since he didn't want to give me his name (part of the mystique of the trade), had three dogs with him. He actually raises dogs to hunt for truffles, and contrary to popular belief, the best are not Labradors. He had a Lab on hand, but in the group dynamic (i.e. one man, three dogs, and a shovel), the Lab deferred to a sprightly little mutt. In fact, by the end of the day, the Lab was having a bit of an inferiority complex, because he never really found a truffle without his co-worker getting there first. (What makes the Labs practical is their steady temperament and their good sense of smell, however, they have bulky paws that get hurt on the rough terrain.) In this case, each of the three dogs had a particular role. A black sheep dog often sniffed out the good ones and let the second, a young mutt, dig out the truffle. Finally, the Lab liked to claim the discovery as his, so he would strut over to the truffle siting and sit regally, like someone posing with someone elses trophy. >> truffles fried and truffles pie’d, truffles breaded, stuffed and dried, ----Here's the really fantastic Seuss-like rhythm!!! creamy truffles casseroled, truffles hot, and truffles cold, truffles candled béchamel, ---and you've even used the French accent acute accurately! More than earthly tongue can tell, Truffles lost in butter sauce, (oh! The alliteration here - it butters my tongue!) In a salad, deftly tossed, In a bread, homemade and baked, In a sweet dessert, square-caked, (love this. love this) Dinner entrée, breakfast fare-- We will see them everywhere! And I like believing that the truffle dog will be there-- the sleek, devoted, friend-to-man-- begging scraps, like all dogs, on either side of heaven. Oh yes! How wonderful. The consideration to dogs, "on either side of heaven" is a splendid way to end the piece. Despite the wit and artistry, your final stanza is my favorite. For such devotion, more than a scrap of raw meat is deserved. I learned on my adventure in search of more information on truffles that sometimes the truffle dogs-in-training are deprived of food to give them keener senses, or even blind-folded (I don't know how this is accomplished) and as we read above, that Labs get their paws hurt on the rough terrain. I love the idea that dogs will be present in heaven, all of their doggly nature intact. The very idea of a dog-less or cat-less heaven doesn't appeal to me. You remind me in this poem of the devotion of dogs - for example, the ones who went for days and days to find bodies after 9-11 and often had glass embedded in their paws. Marsha -- your title, "Eye Hath Not Seen" tells us that the woman behind the poem is devoutly spiritual; while writing with a light touch, you remind us of the eternal, of the One Who made us all, of things to come. Excellent in every imaginable way. Onto my list it goes! And now I am hungry for something I've never tasted (and likely never will) and thinking about dogs in heaven and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Not a bad way to begin the day! Brava, brava! All my best, Joanne
This Poem was Critiqued By: Claire H. Currier On Date: 2004-04-19 07:08:41
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.88889
Poet this is adorable and one can see all those truffles you speak of though I have to say I have never had one in my life. There are certain things I won't try I guess and that was one of them though the way you present them here in good humor form I should go out and get my first one... Like the structure and word flow and the images you do present here with the flare of your pen. The truffle dog I have not seen but if I do I shall let you know.... Really enjoyed this read and it is going on my list of poems for the month. Be safe, God Bless, Claire
Poetry Contests Online at The Poetic Link

Click HERE to return to ThePoeticLink.com Database Page!