What does this mean?

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Since there seem to be quite a few people from the UK on this site, I could use a bit of help in understanding a verse in an otherwise wonderful recitation on the 7 Deadly sins I found:

I got myself worked up with WRATH, aggressive and demanding.
I took a jumper back to Marks, they were quite understanding

My US trained mind is completely mystified.

Ricky

Comments

Don't quote me on this :P

Wrath means angry (or at least I always thought it did)

A "Jumper" in England is what we call a Sweater.

And I suspect the reference to Marks is refering to the store "Marks & Spencer" which is also known as "M&S" "Marks'" "Marks n Sparks"
As they are known for there customer service I'd expect them to be understanding.

Sam

I got myself worked up with

I got myself worked up with WRATH, aggressive and demanding.
I took a jumper back to Marks, they were quite understanding

Ricky

jumper = a woolen jersey sweater

Marks = Marks and Spencer; a large department store chain recently in trouble because of the credit crisis

HTH

>> I got myself worked up

Puddintane's picture

>> I got myself worked up with WRATH, aggressive and demanding.
>> I took a jumper back to Marks, they were quite understanding

Marks and Sparks makes perfect sense in context, as every other of the author's essays into sin didn't go well, and there's nothing spoils a good sulk like having people agree with everything one says.

As sinners go, he's been a miserable failure, but on the other hand, the entire poem simply reeks of envy. He's just been a little short-sighted in not realising that he's been jealous of the happy sinners.

Cheers,

Puddin'

-

Cheers,

Puddin'

A tender heart is an asset to an editor: it helps us be ruthless in a tactful way.
--- The Chicago Manual of Style

Two nations...

...separated by a common language?

I think a jumper is an item of apparel like a jersey or woollen top.

Marks is probably a contraction of ‘Marks and Spencer,’ a chain of department stores.

I hope this helps.

Producing Sense


Bike Archive

Agreed.

I agree with all those above me... that's what I thought too!

It would have scanned better

Angharad's picture

Had it been:
I got myself worked up with sparks, aggressive and demanding.
I took a jumper back to Marks, they were quite understanding.

Angharad

Angharad

True but ...

... even this atheist knows that 'sparks' isn't one of the seven deadly sins. :)

A jumper, in Royal Navy so-called square rig uniform (the one with the big collar) is the serge outer garment and the woolly knitted garement worn underneath in Winter is called a jersey - in Summer, a shirt with a square neck and a blue border called a white front, is worn instead of the jersey.

Robi

Not to my ears...

Angharad,

Yes, it would, as posted; but if you read the original poem in its entirety you'll see that it would have been wrong.
A rhyme in a place where there is no rhyme in any of the other verses would be confusing and jarring.
I have on occasion had to throw away a lovely rhyme or two because of this.
Of course, I may well be following formats and rules too strictly in my poetry...

- Moni

Dictionaries

Since I deal with subjects concerning the Mother Country from time to time, I found it useful to invest in an American-English, English-American dictionary. They really do exist.

Nancy Cole

Nancy_Cole__Red_Background_.png


~ ~ ~

"You may be what you resolve to be."

T.J. Jackson