On the Terrace of Sudeley, come Bank Holiday,
after May Queen is crowned and a song for Green Jack,
Happenstance raise the Maypole, to welcome the May
in their blue and green tatters, hats feathered and black.
After May Queen is crowned and a song for Green Jack,
Hap’s musicians launch into a jubilant tune
in their blue and green tatters, hats feathered and black,
to rejoice in the Spring on this fine afternoon.
Hap’s musicians launch into a jubilant tune,
as around the green pole all the ribbons parade,
to rejoice in the Spring on this fine afternoon
reds and yellows combine and the patterns are made.
As around the green pole all the ribbons parade
chestnut candles ascend, bluebells chime, tulips bloom,
reds and yellows combine and the patterns are made,
courting pigeons in silver gowns murmur and plume.
Chestnut candles ascend, bluebells chime, tulips bloom,
Happenstance raise the Maypole, to welcome the May,
courting pigeons in silver gowns murmur and plume
on the Terrace of Sudeley, come Bank Holiday.
* * *
Alas, the unrelenting master Work continues to wrench the
P-i-R from the embrace of Poesie, but by last Monday a goodly portion of
another splendid scholarly tome had been completed and thus I felt able to
travel to Sudeley for the May Day celebrations featuring Happenstance. And Brother
Adrian was kind enough to convey me thither, in the trusty WAV.
I attended this event last year and found it very enjoyable.
Happenstance’s dance to recall the tradition of chimney-sweeps was particularly
interesting and it inspired this song: http://happenstancepoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/chimney-sweepers-dancing-day.html
I was pleased to watch the chimney-sweeps’ dance this year
too, especially as Mrs T was involved, wearing red pyjamas. Happenstance also
performed a new dance, [name], the subject of my next poem once Mrs T has
performed it for me at Poet’s Nest, to refresh my memory. For now, I’ve
composed a pantoum to describe the Maypole dance. The structure is the same as
in my ‘Quebec ’
and ‘Isbourne’, but whereas each line of those two poems is performed as iambic
tetrameter, here I use the waltzer rhythm, ~ ~ / – ~ ~ / – ~ ~ / – ~ ~ / –,
just for a change!
The Maypole dancers were excellent and I liked the pattern
of the red and yellow ribbons at the top of the green pole. I was reminded of the
superb sight after the dance, in a corner of Sudeley grounds planted with
beautiful tulips; see Bro A’s picture below.
