The Country Fair

Written today for the Country Fair Contest

 

Outside the country market town,

Hustle bustle diddle – um – dey,

Ferris wheel goes up, goes down,

Merriment’s the order of the day;

Parked around the great show ring,

Slide and roundabout, stalls and swings

Sheep and cattle and all the things

That make a country fair.

Bell clad Morris Men jig and prance

Accordion plays a merry tune;

As long sticks clack in jingling dance,

Their dancing eyes spare thirsty glance

Toward the beer tent’s tempting door

Thirsty dancers set to lure.

Cowhands, dancers, country maids,

Wranglers, wrestlers and many more

Prop the bar from the grassy floor

 Supping pints and ale galore

And who is this we see again?

Why, red-faced, thirsty Morris men.

In the show ring, large, fat bulls

Groomed and polished, brushed and fed

Cajoled by gentle pulls are led

By buxom maidens in white coats

And farmers, also showing goats

And pigs and calves and sheep and lambs

Soon to be mutton, beef and hams.

But let’s not talk of that today,

Today’s for merriment and play;

Drinking, dancing on the green

And secret places all unseen

Where lass meets lad

While they make hay

As lights come on at the end of day.

At  the bar inebriated,

Morris men, still not sated

Lean upon the marquee’s prop

Aled and stouted to the top.

Florid farmer buys a tractor

From Jones, the local tractor factor,

A rosette fastened to his coat

Says “First Prize - Best Angora Goat”

Which, seeing the passing Beauty Queen

Had peed upon the village green

In the middle of the precious wicket

Where the team play village cricket

Leaving them quite out of sorts,

Which brings us to the country sports

That bangs throughout the afternoon.

As clay on clay are downed at pace,

Lead pellets shower around the place.

And now, it’s late, it’s half past ten

Where are those shattered Morris Men,

The toilet tent’s in overflow,

The once bright lights now just a glow

Another village show is done

Happy crowds to homes are gone

Though in some nooks there’s “goings on,”

Flustered lasses still make hay

With lads who just won’t go away;

Hustle, bustle, diddle – dum – day

Sing with joy, this fair, ‘This Day’.

 

John L Berry    16 September 2008

Reviews

[Margaret Barton-Wahl]

Oh!!!! What a delightful piece of writing. It is lyrical and humorous.
I quite enjoyed reading it and even thought a little tune to sing
it to. I think that it will make a great country song. Yet as a poem it is
of the sort that brings a smile to the lips of anyone who might be
Fortunate enough to read it. WELL DONE!!! Peace&Love be with you...~M~

[Adela Muresan]

This is great.
I think it took you quite a bit to srite such a well flowing story poem :D.
My favourite image is ,,The once bright lights now just a glow,, ;you did a good job by puting it in the end ( which is suppose to be the best part :P ).

A.M.

[Nancy Lee Shrader]

Loved this whimsical piece. In fact I voted for this piece in the contest.



The beginning began much like a song.




Outside the country market town,Hustle bustle diddle � um � dey,Ferris wheel goes up, goes down,Merriment's the order of the day;Parked around the great show ring,Slide and roundabout, stalls and swingsSheep and cattle and all the thingsThat make a country fair.



And the ending just finished the song of a beautifully fun day.



The once bright lights now just a glowAnother village show is doneHappy crowds to homes are goneThough in some nooks there's "goings on,"Flustered lasses still make hayWith lads who just won't go away;Hustle, bustle, diddle � dum � daySing with joy, this fair, 'This Day'.



Great Poem!

[emmajoy]

LMAO... this is great, absolutely great!. I know that fair, been to it a million times! What a wonderful piece of writing, can see it all! I'd like to select a favourite line or part but, it's all so well written I just can't

Thank you so much for letting me share a very well crafted post which is descriptive, delightful and funny!