In Land of Cockaigne
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Image credit - alimentarium.org
I was driving home late one cold Winters night
It was minus ten and the moon shone bright
Then in my car headlights a young girl I did see
I swerved hard to avoid her and hit a large tree.
Next thing I was standing in a cobbled street
I was wearing white robes and sandals on my feet
Rings on my fingers and all made of pure gold
Everyone young and smiling, nobody was old.
What was this place and how on earth did I get here?
And yet I felt quite calm and without any fear
Then the girl I nearly hit walked smiling towards me
Saying " you're in the land of Cockaigne, everything is free".
"You don't need any money just walk into a store
Get as much as you want and go back if you need more"
We went into a jewellers and it was a free for all
People were grabbing everything, they were having a ball.
She then took me to a wine bar on the other side of town
People were drinking from bottles and guzzling it down
Every type of wine that you could think of was on display
And the best of it all was, that you didnt have to pay.
Then I saw a strange building in the middle of town
It stood very tall and the colour a dark brown
Made of milk chocolate and for the people a treat
Like others I broke off pieces and started to eat.
Some other buildings too were made of fine food
And in a glass fountain, people swam in the nude.
But the water wasn't water it was fizzy champagne
I was struggling to take it in, was I going insane ?.
The girl said "you must be tired and should take a rest"
And took me to a swanky hotel of quality the best
Inside there were old masters adorning the walls
And gold and silver doors that led to great halls.
There were people sat down enjoying a banquet
With classical music provided by a four string quartet
She then took me to a room that was draped in luxury
Then rang down for two masseurs to come and relax me.
I started to doze off lying on a four poster bed
And thought the only explanation was that I must be dead
I must be in a dream state before going to the next life
Then I thought of home, my two kids and my wife.
And that girl I nearly knocked over before I got here
Was she an angel or evil and something I should fear?
I was so worn out and tired but first needed to sleep
Then started to come to hearing an intermittent beep.
My eyes then opened and a nurse was stood over me
Told me I was lucky to be alive after hitting that tree
She said " I was hallucinating, saying something about Cockaigne
And that I'd had three operations, to relieve swelling on my brain".
I was in hospital for another two weeks and then given the all clear
The doctor said "I'd been lucky as I'd been in a coma for a year"
Those words he spoke to me were whirring around in my head
He added I'd died twice, but they'd brought me back from the dead.
Written on 19th November 2020.
For Pick -A-Title, Vol 25-Rhyme 2 Poetry Contest.
Sponsored by Edward Ibeh.
Title Chosen 2) In land of Cockaigne
Copyright © Tom Cunningham | Year Posted 2020
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