Enchantment

[Hawkman]

Said His Grace to Milady,
I know you’re quite shady
but still, you’re the girl I adore,
will you come for a spin
on the dance floor within
if the band should strike up an encore?

Said the lady, Delighted,
and passion requited
the Duke took her hand and a knee,
and perhaps prematurely,
for still it was early,
saw stocking tops well before three.

With passions enflamed
he just had to declaim,
Oh my word how bewitching you are!
But his words were too bold
so the lady grew cold
and she ran, like a hare, to her car.

But His Grace was prepared
and the lady ensnared,
as her tyres had all been deflated
and so she returned,
though his ardour she spurned,
and it, for a while, went unsated.

But on Halloween night
it’s quite useless to fight
for such magic can not be resisted,
she thawed to his suit
and the sound of his lute
giving in, when at last, he desisted.

So the message is clear
to those we hold dear,
do not flirt with the opposite sexes;
when the magic is hot
then as likely as not
you’ll succumb to the powers and hexes.

[Haunted]

Along with the rhyming which is so fitting for this period piece, a flowing, lively drama unfolds before my eyes in all its grandiose setting. Rhyming is hard to master without compromising the message, and once again the fine Duke of Hawkshire pulled it off in such skill and eloquence. But, there's a more solemn lesson to be learned here: the likes of His Grace must remember to avert their eyes from stocking tops at all cost :D

[Varenne Rodin]

I thoroughly appreciated it. This is a fun one.

[Hawkman]

Mistress Haunted is too kind. It pleases his grace to have entertained her, though he finds her suggestion with regard to the direction of his gaze unconscionable. How dull the world would be, how bland and joyless, without a glimpse of stocking every now and then. In olden days a glimpse of stocking was thought simply shocking, but nowadays, anything goes, don't you know - lol.

Ah, Varenne, welcome back to the boards and thanks for gracing my precocious post with a kind word.

Live and be well - H

[Haunted]

The Humble Haunted begs for the Duke's forgiveness. Of course it would dull, bland and joyless in a world without a glimpse of stocking every now and then. Somehow she was under the impression that this is a scene from the old world. But sure, today's that's rather tame and the Duke of Hawkshire is too gentleman to stop at a stocking top. :D

[Hawkman]

Why madam, a lady can do no wrong so what is there to forgive :) but what exactly are you suggesting? Where would you consider it proper for him to rest his gaze? :D

[Delta40]

another witty poem from you Hawk. I can't decide on which is my favourite. Either way they both brought a smile to my face.

[Hawkman]

Thanks Delta, glad you enjoyed it :)

LLAP - H

[Haunted]

You got me. Stocking tops of course :D

[PrinceMyshkin]

What was it DH Lawrence said, about the English having sex in their heads instead of where it ought to be?

[Hawkman]

It's safer that way.

[blank|verse]

Jolly good fun, Hawk. It's an odd form, like reading the end of a limerick over and again, but it works very well and sets a suitably light mood for this poetic romp. Is it your own invention?

[Hawkman]

Hi b/v and thanks for reading and enjoying the fun. It would be nice to discover that I had invented a form, but I'm fairly certain that I haven't. I'm sure I've heard it before somewhere, either in a lyric or comic verse. I can't immediately place it though. But then, Fab Macca thought he'd heard the tune to Elenor Rigby somewhere, so maybe it is original, although I agree it's vaguely remeniscent of a Limeric as you observed.

Live and be well - H

[firefangled]

In trying to catch up I found this one, Hawk, and I was glad I did. Great story and consistency with the form, which seems to me to take after the third stanza of Edward Lear's The Owl and the Pussycat. Lear's lines are longer (two of yours), but I think you'll hear it too. Funny thing is the rest of Lear's poem does not have the same rhythm:

'Dear pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling
Your ring?' Said the Piggy, 'I will.'
So they took it away, and were married next day
By the Turkey who lives on the hill.
They dined on mince, and slices of quince,
Which they ate with a runcible spoon;
And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand,
They danced by the light of the moon,

[Hawkman]

Hi ff and thanks for reading. I think I may have subliminally recognised that rhyme scheme and rhythm, and I was reminded of the owl and the pussycat when writing S2 and S3 in particular. I couldn't remember the lear poem properly though, so thanks for the reminder. It also bears a striking resemblence to: "Hey diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle..." although the rhyme scheme isn't so consistant in this one. :)

Anyway, glad you enjoyed it - Live and be well - H

[kittypaws]

Well Hawk....sounds like you are feeling better?

I totally enjoyed the frolics of The Duke and his Milady.

Wish I could write rhyme like that!

kittypaws