Chaucer's Folly (A Valentine Tale?)

If there's a holiday to poke fun at, this is it.

Oh Geoffrey!
Did you ken what confusions you'd cause?
A few simple lines to commemorate a royal wedding
On the feast day of a Genoan saint.
You and your raunchy humor
And bawdy thoughts
Of birds mating.
What a way to speak of the Royals!
The joining of countries
Reduced to a tumble!

And now, Geoff!
People are mistaking your "customs;"
Crediting them to similar Romans,
Pagan in thoughts and deeds;
Naked in the streets 
Delivering pregnancy rites.
Those Corinthians would be mortified by our cupids:
Babies in Diapers, Indeed!
What a colossal mistake--
Equating the day with the gods.

How could You!
Those poor Worthy* martyrs
Consecrated by the Church.
Their feast day now celebrated 
With sweets, chocolate, and edible underwear.
Your tales have carried
Until commercialism reigns,
And Saints' day resembles a pagan marriage
Dressed in blood-red and pink.
Oh Geoffrey! If you'd only known! 
You'd be laughing.

Author's Note

Chaucer is sometimes credited with the romance of Valentine's Day when he wrote about King Richard II marriage on May 2, a day that commemorates a Bishop Valentines death in Genoa. This day was confused with the Catholic feast day that commemorates the martyr(s) St Valentine on February 14. This day is believed to be set to divert the pagan attention of the Romans who celebrated Lupercalia, a Greco-Roman festival for fertility.
*The Name Valentine comes from the Latin that means Worthy.

Reviews

[MsJewel]

Your creativity shines in every line of this well written Valentine gem. I'm glad I stumbled across this one. I enjoyed every word! :) Julie

[JayceeC]

And this is when its easy to see the I'm a teacher by profession, always giving the facts. I'm glad you stopped by to read this piece. I'm trying to get back a bit more often.

[Pursue Peace Blog]

Thoroughly enjoyed the poem! I actually couldn't get "Canterbury Tales" out of my head as this is the only thing I've read from Chaucer, but I think a lot of your criticisms of him could relate to that poem too as he depicted so many church-going people as scum. I laughed quite a lot through this. I hope that was your intent, as I'm sure it was. Loved the satirical way with which you spoke to him. Chaucer is one I wouldn't mind talking to. Such a unique fellow he was!

[JayceeC]

Oh I have to agree. I should update the note to say that the dedicated poem is "The parliament of Fowls" he was basically making fun of the whole king's cabinet. quite the satirical writer and I think he would have had me rolling with his wit.

[Pansy]

This is quite funny and enjoyably informative! A good read.

[JayceeC]

yes, I'm a bit sarcastic and jaded about this "holiday" Why do we refer to it that way when no one gets off work for it??

[E G TEN]

Hey Jan, Edible underwearr? :D ;D Makes me laugh my friend.
Sad yet satisfying at the same time. Your note helps a heaps.
Many Thanks EG.

[JayceeC]

Lol. Well it had to be one of the more ridiculous items...so why not. Being a florist for many years made me cynical.

[A hare off]

I was completely enchanted by your words today and then I came across edible underwear and snapped right back into reality. I an happy I found this today as I not only enjoyed it, I learned something in the poetic process. I liked this a lot. Happy Valentine's Day.

[JayceeC]

Lol. That line wss a nod at his zingers. And the ridiculousness of it all. Sorry if the holy was a bio much...Lol

[Einstein Noodle]

thank you for the enriching history note!

yes perhaps laughing but more to be crying ..bitter tears says i .... a sad day and days we live in ... seeping corruption of our hearts and souls ... pin pricks and nicks of skillful sharp surgical scalpels ... just a little here (nothing to disturb) then a little there ( oh my ..... oh my!) i understand the humor ...but it is too true to allow sustained laughter for me .. wonderful poem .. love the history ... lots of avenues to turn off on as i read and for you ..the writer ;)
E.

[JayceeC]

Chaucer had a wickedly sharp sense of humor Parliament of Fowls was over 1200 lines. The first half very proper for a kind adding, the second half quite baudy. I think that some of the blame is that of the first Valentine cards..an American invention toward commercialism.

[Einstein Noodle]

well ..as an American citizen .. i think we stink at it ... but there is hope ... this morning on a news broadcast it was stated that 60% of Americans plan nothing for VD day .. the rest divided between flowers and candy ... oh my .... truth be told women hold the upper hand on this "celebration" ... in confessional form i must say .. i will ask my Norma to go with me to her favorite Chinese Eatery for some very good "stuff" ...
E.

[JayceeC]

I'll be posting my poem for Otto shortly. I was a florist for many years, do flowers are just flowers (and generally not good quality because of cutting demands) on stupid cupid day. I'd rather him cook for me..or plan an evening of play. ;)

[Einstein Noodle]

:) ...................

[wordman]

damn,you are so smart ! saint valentine has cost us guys a lot of money ,lol

[JayceeC]

Blame it all on Chaucer...Lol. Otto was ahead of the curve and had my gift waiting when I got home..

[wordman]

he knew you would beat his a*s if he hadn`t,lol

[JayceeC]

As long as there's a gift in private, he can save our money..Lol
But it is nice when he picks something out on his own.

[wordman]

happy valentines jcc

[JayceeC]

To you too. I still haven't come up with a perm for Otto.

[wordman]

you are my sunshine,the light of my life,i am so happy you asked me to be your wife
so happy valentines ,from me to you,happy valentines sweet heart, i love you

[JayceeC]

Lol..Thanks.. You should write for hallmark or American Greetings...Lol

[wordman]

you think their hiring?lol just sit on my butt and write silly love songs ! what a job

[M P Ramesh]

Jaycee,
It is time which is hunted by the writer always. It can be said it is a hide seek policy. But when the meditation is counted up on there seems to be a controller always behind....or ahead .......of him/her. Hindsight is considered a gift always when touched by the genius. There is and are questions in the past which can be answered with TODAY's tools. Hunt it ....bring it....search it .......reshape it.....serve it.....enjoy it's waves among your fellow beings.............
carry on............


M P Ramesh

[JayceeC]

Thanks for reading and reviewing.

[Pushkar Prabhat]

OMG!!!!
delightful........
i hate when natural emotions and actions are tried to be quantified and packaged and then sold..........which then just becomes a liability, ritual.........

amazing history lesson too....
loved it!!!
:)

[JayceeC]

This is not knew but remains one of my favorites. It was fun to write.

[Pushkar Prabhat]

its fun to read too!!! :)