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Delta40
11-02-2010, 08:30 PM
A poor man knelt upon two sharp stones
at the door of the Dunmow Church
'Tis true' uttered Bill Parsley most humbly.
He bowed his head and sucked in the pain
as he repeated again and again
'Tis true oh Lord' He let tears slide down
his weathered face in the hope of receiving grace.
The weight of his bulky form pressed down
upon the rocky tips.
Shockwaves bolted through his knees
as he clenched his hands in wrought need.
He swore for twelve months and a day
he had never once wished
his conjugal tie to be loosened;
that he and Jane were blessed with marital amity
and ne'er a cross word spoken.
Bill endured his suffering without so much as blame
for the woman who had dispatched him on this quest
His peasant worn hands held tight his conviction
'Tis true Oh Lord'
The priest aided the near crippled man to his feet.
'Let it be thus known Bill and Jane Parsley are
deserving of a flitch of bacon as reward for
their marital triumph.'
Bill Parsley accepted the reward;
a simple man who obeyed his Lord.
He staggered home with wobbly knees
which threatened to give out
under the weight of the smoked pig.
He and Jane admired its size hanging in the Larder.
Jane kissed her husbands sweating brow.
'I love you Bill Parsley.' Jane loosened her apron.
Bills knees buckled in delight at the tightened knot
he and Jane had made twelve months and a day ago.

PrinceMyshkin
11-02-2010, 09:41 PM
Something early on in this made me think of Dickens and much as I enjoyed it, I wished it had been presented as a short story. The line-breaks felt like stumbling blocks rather than enhancements.

hillwalker
11-03-2010, 06:31 AM
I'll assume this refers to the Dunmow Flitch - you have nailed the style and language of the times. An enjoyable read. I particularly liked the closing pair of lines.

H

Delta40
11-03-2010, 07:30 AM
Thanks Hill, Prince. I wrote it without much editing, but I see I could have framed it much better and yes, it would make a nice little short story too. Actually I did not realise this tradition is still going. I read about it in phrase and fable and deduced this was a likely contender for the term 'bringing home the bacon' only 8 people won it between the 13th and 18th century...