Chapter Two: The Cottager's Geese

Introduces the cottager, his wife, and their predicament.

In blustery, wintery weather one day

A cottager’s wife heard the cottager say,

“This storm is a sign; I believe I will wait

To go to the Wells to implore better fate.”

 

The cottager’s wife knew her husband was right,

But asked, “If it clears, will you travel tonight?”

The cottager nodded.  His wife tried to smile

As if to say “We will grow out of this trial.”

 

For, for many years they had struggled to make

Enough money for even a biscuit to bake.

By trade they were goosers, a lowly profession

Of raising the geese for a special procession.

 

At one time their business had more than success:

The people of Belles never needed to guess

When choosing a goose for their holiday feast:

“I know just the man who has just the right beast!”

 

But goose was a meat too expensive for most

In times of sore war, like the one on the coast.

The kingdom of Belles had been fighting with Biers

For nearly eleven and twenty-one years.

 

The taxes on peasants were usually fair

But in times of battle, the kingdom lost care.

The marketplace sellers were struggling, too,

So how could a luxury business get through?

 

The cottager’s geese were all scraggly and weak,

From each molting feather to each dulling beak,

But, though they could hardly stand up on their legs,

His eight little geese could lay eight little eggs.

 

The cottager gathered the eggs ev’ry week

And took them to market, his countenance meek.

He had caring friends who would buy two or three

And leave him with coins for his small family.

 

He’d sell to the baker, who always had gold,

For what was more needed than bread without mold?

He’d sell to the butcher, his friend from the womb,

The candlestick maker (a newlywed groom),

 

And also a woman, with hood over head,

Who spoke with a voice that distilled any dread

And bought from his basket, each week, ev’ry egg

That was left, so the cottager needed not beg.

 

(And once in a while, by ways he knew not,

He’d check in his satchel to count what he got

And find that the sum was quite more than what he

Had charged for the eggs, and it filled him with glee.)

 

But then, when the storm froze the kingdom of Belles,

Restricting the man from attending the Wells,

The geese laid no eggs, for the cold crept inside

Their shelter and, to his dismay, seven died.

 

With only one goose and without any eggs,

The cottager wanted to use his frail legs

To walk to the center of his little town

And pray that old Fate would reverse his cold frown.

 

But now, with his wife cuddled close to his chest,

The storm was a sign from the gods, so he guessed

That somebody somewhere would benefit from

His poverty, hunger, and flesh freezing numb.

 

‘Twas true!  Yes, the cottager’s guess was just right:

In fact, the receiver came that very night,

Though neither the cottager nor his dear bride

Had any idea who they ushered inside.

 

The woman from market, the one with the hood,

Had knocked on their door and requested some food.

All coated with ice, her cloak quivered and quaked

Both from the strong wind and her body’s own shake.

 

The cottager’s wife brought her small chunks of bread

While the cottager stoked a small fire and said,

“You’ve bought my goose eggs from the market in town.

I’m happy to help you back up as you’re down.”

 

The woman, when warm, stood in front of the flame.

Her silhouette sharpened her hideous frame.

She thanked both the cottager and his dear wife

And promised, “You’ll soon have a wonderful life.”

 

She hobbled back out to the wintery storm,

Despite their kind offer to stay with them warm,

And wondered what power inspir’d her to say

Their life would be wonderful some future day.

Reviews

[Miss Coral]

Another nice installment- again, the tempo was flawless. I really love the vocabulary that you have in these, and the way it all seems to fit together like a puzzle piece.

The setting is very nicely set up- you really made the situation of the people clear without any sort of infodump and kept it all really interesting again. Awesome job! :)

-Coral-

[T. J. Blackburn]

Very Dr. Seuss-y. Nice. Keep it up.