There once was a young lady,
who walked along the roadway,
she danced a jig in the shady
of the bright sun shiny day.
She came upon a golden lute
and picked it up to play.
A boy appeared sudden and cute
but he didn’t know what to say.
He looked at the lute in her hand
and gave her a quick smile,
and said he’s in a dance band,
could he walk her along the next mile?
She smiled widely back at him
and then gently shook her head,
her features became very grim
and she looked at him with dread.
I’m sorry, you seem a nice young man,
but you cannot walk with me,
for the people of my clan
will then expect you for tea.
They will holler and hoot
and wait upon your visit,
they will assume you to be cute
and think our meeting kismet.
They will not understand
that I came upon you by mishap.
They’ll expect you to take my hand
as they rib you and give you backslaps.
Our wedding will be too soon upon us,
you will wonder what has hit you.
I’ve seen before this big fuss
when my cousin Carrie met her Hugh.
My family made them quickly wed,
and as they readied for the rite
Hugh swiftly snuck away and fled,
but they brought him back mid-flight.
Now Carrie’s happy as a clam,
she’s born five children so far,
while Hugh never smiles, poor lamb,
I don’t want you to carry that scar.
So I will bow goodbye to you now
and thank you for a quick tune
as I leave your presence somehow
with nobody the wiser this noon.
The boy dipped his head at her,
and watched her turn to leave,
she danced away – no amateur,
and for a moment, he grieved.
This is the story of two young ones
who could have met another day
without threat of wedding or guns
perhaps happy under the fray, anyway.
Dawn Marie Paul Art & Books 