S E V E N T E E N

Out in the folds
Of endless wold
Our company advanced,

Whilst all around
The business sound
Of nature was financed;

With buzzing things,
Whose beaks and wings,
And claws full of the same,

Performed the rites
Of life’s delights,
Until, they too, were game.

And in the midst
Of this checklist
Our forest folk were cowed,

As such a horde
Had never poured
Out of their woodland clouds.

Or run as fast,
Or hopped aghast,
Or chased a dinner down;

The impact of
This new world was
Beginning to astound.

And our young lad,
With his comrades,
Was soaking up the sun,

Like morning leaves
That had received
Their first communion.

But at a stroke
Enchantment broke,
Beneath the giant’s feet,

And gears were greased
As speed increased
Towards a far retreat.

Where after breath
Had sorely left
The hardiest of lungs,

They entered gates
Swung wide in wait,
As giant voices sung.

And moved to match
The tune dispatched
Their large companion hailed,

The gathering
Of giant lings
That all before them wailed.

Whilst from the swell,
As silence fell,
A regal figure strode,

Anointed with
A lover’s gift,
And ready to bestow.

But sweethearts kept
Themselves in check,
Because of their mandate,

And whispered words
That no one heard,
Though all could estimate.

Then filing through
The avenues
Of reverential bows,

Entered a hall
Were customs stalled
The surging of the crowd.

“Now tell me all”
The chieftain called
To her beloved spouse.

“Of news amassed,
And papers passed,
And strangers in my house”

“It is as told”,
He answered, cold,
“Before I left to hear it,

A motion set
With epithets,
And everything should fear it.

And these six shook
From forest nooks
Have seen it in its nest,

And bravely so,
And blameless blown,
Though charged with their own quest”

“I thought as much”
She said, untouched,
“So caution must prevail,

And any friend
Thee recommend
Will help with its detail.

So call the wise,
And advertise
For any greater still,

For now’s the time
For pantomimes
To lose their wordless chill”.