My friend and I closed down the shop; we took turns mopping up
And ‘tween the swishes, traded fun “what if’s”
I asked her, “What if saints came marching in for cone or cup
“What flavors, do you reckon, would they pick?
I’d hand ’em samples!”

My coworker, amused, gave some examples…

“Saint Pete would go for Rocky Road; at least two reasons why
On road from Rome, ‘Quo vadis?‘ He asked Christ
Since Paul once stopped near Naples, Neapolitan he’d try
A Trinity analogy he’d love…
Though imprecise!

“And speak of which, green clovers were Saint Patrick’s ‘show and tell’
So Mint Chip he would surely like the most
Saint Francis? Easy! Moose Tracks plus a second scoop as well
Vanilla, for His love for Jesus dwelling…
In the Host”

“For Dominic, his habit might be Cookies ‘n Cream flavor
Gerard and Bar’bra, Cherry Chip to share
Therese would “choose them all”! But take a Rose Sorbet to savor
And Cookie Dough for Hildegard the baker
Extraordinaire”

“It’s clear which flavor many of the Carmelites would like
For Blessed Ukon, Matcha he’d attack
Saint Benedict would, as a rule, first pre-bless every bite
And Athanasius would not stand for ‘lite’…
But full sugar, full fat“

I reminisced how dad had told some tales of saintly heroes
Who’d licked this heav’nly gift with grateful hearts…

Saint John Paul II, the pope who craved “Marron Glacé” gelato
Pope Benedict, “Cassata Siciliana“
Once, Blessed Casey stored in drawers two cones that did not melt
Saint Carlo liked to top his with Nutella…
What a fella!

Before we each clocked out, I shared with shock and some emotion
The goal of all devotion, we’d neglected
The Royal Couple! To express my love for both, an ocean
I told my friend, “I know what they would pick…
If I’m correct…”

“Undebatably divine, the flavor known to rule
A Chocolate cone for Jesus with three wallops of hand dipped
To match her mantle’s hue and to evoke her queenly footstool*
A Blue Moon might be Mary’s, crowned with whip…
But wouldn’t it melt
  As she went round
     As mothers do
        Till she had found
That no one in the parlor had been skipped?”

***

* “And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.” -Revelation 12:1