Goose Fair for M' lady Lena

story poem

 

 

 

Goose Fair

 

A regiment of honking geese,

disturb the early morning peace.

As they are driven to the fair

 by girls with flowers in their hair.

 

The goose fair is the great event

and the excitements evident.

As Farmers, wives and serving maids

 and hucksters join the great parade.

 

Small tinkers carts of pots and pans.

 Dispute the way with caravans

of gypsy families who meet

 at the goose fair. Where they compete

 

 with local merchants. They all try

to persuade fair goers to buy.

The fairings that they have for sale

gilt gingerbread and bottled ale.

 

Hair ribands of every hue.

“golden” rings and brooches too

 At least that’s what the hucksters say.

 As they attempt to make you pay.

 

 much more than what their wares are worth.

 A cause to wiser heads for mirth.

But the young will not be told

that all that glistens is not gold.

 

It would be wasting time to try

to persuade them not to buy.

What they perceive to be bargains.

 Excitement has addled their brains.

 

There stands a stall of pewter ware

 The finest value at the fair

with pots and plates of every size.

 The pewtersmith does not tell lies.

 

There’s something to suit every taste.

Be quick, be quick no time to waste

The merchants cry in unison

your only chance will soon be gone.

 

There’s games to play to test your skills

 and fat quack doctors selling pills.

Which they’re prepared to guarantee

 will cure your every malady.

 

Your rotten tooth you can have out.

 The dentist knows what he’s about

He does not claim it is pain free

 but pulls it out efficiently.

 

There’s stalls of boots and stalls of shoes

 which make it difficult to choose

 from whom you’ll buy your merchandise

Prepared to haggle over price

 

You have to have the cash to pay

 for anything you buy today.

This simple rule to everyone applies.

 And woe betide the fool who tries

 

 

To steal the goods he cannot buy.

For they will raise the hue and cry.

The baying crowd will join the chase

 the thief will find no hiding place.

 

They will harass him mercilessly

until he’s caught eventually.

Then he’ll be locked away to wait

 his trial by the magistrate.

 

He has been beaten black and blue

as angry crowds are wont to do

He faces transportation

or even execution.

 

If valued at twelve pence or more

 then only death will pay the score.

If it is less he will sent

 to some far distant settlement.

 

Where he must labour for the time

 that was thoughtmete to fit his crime.

The angry crowd have had their fun

 and soon forget what they have done.

 

They drift away as twilight falls

 completely deaf now to the calls

 of merchant who still have goods to sell.

They make for home with tales to tell.

 

The merchants must remove their stalls

  although outside the city walls

They must be gone by break of day

or they will have a fee to pay.

 

The fair is over for this year.

The finest Goose Fair anywhere.

The local worthies proudly boast

about the Goose Fair which they host.

 

It has been held for centuries

and still today it guarantees

 a fun filled day for families

 Although today you see few geese.

 

3-Jul-08

 

http:// blog.myspace.com/poeticpiers

Reviews

[clau]

Wow, I really liked this piece! It seemed simple until I start reading into it. I think I am one of those gullible young people that easy swindled by people who try to sell me things. I like how you have a fixed scheme and rhyme. I really enjoyed this piece because it made a simple event into a more interesting event, showing us the real happenings at a fair!

[Ray Hamilton]

This was a wonderfully entertaining write I enjoyed it
Thanks Ray { Not a Poet }

[Lena M. P.]

Oh, I believe I like this one the best. The hustle and bustle of the fair, the excitement, the drama, all unfolds. I can hear the hawkers, I can see the stalls, the youth eying the goods, the animals pacing and the pickpockets waiting. Thank you for the scenic trip to the fair!

[Adela Muresan]

Kowel story poem :).

The importance accorded to money walks hand in hand with the falsity of the merchants.

An angora, is a very good ambient for the theme of materialism, and fraud.

A.M.