Leftward went his stride, counter to the sun he strode.
They said he was magicked hence by the fairies
or was a mechanical manikin
witched up from a pot of spells.
Old widdershins had a stove pipe hat
and his clothes were plucked from a crow
he was a longshanks, and wicker-boned,
when he circled a church counterclockwise
old wives muttered about the ‘devils work’
but he was just crook-legged and addled.
Queen Mab midwife of the odd and less ordinary
made him from willow cane and burnt straw
and when he circled the wrong way all day
it was only to stabilize the penny-farthings
that roamed around country churches back when.
The land, despite dire warnings,
did not lose itself in a maze of sorrows,
for all was an enchanted misdirection
a hocus-pocus roundabout detour,
a contrary conjecture
that right was always right despite,
and left was just a gauche and a gangly wish.
Categories:
farthings, poetry,
Form: Free verse
Whatever happened to common sense
when did we all become so dense
ya can’t fall off an un-sat fence
dreaming of why and where and whence
trying to figure out farthings and pence
trapped in a world of hereafter and hence
can’t really recall but it’s been that way since
we o’erthrew the king to favor the prince
expecting pure satin – wound up with cheap chintz
our armor now rusted, bloodless, with dents
thrown out of our houses we now live in tents
downwind from the castle’s hungerless scents
venom the substance of our effluence
fueled by delay of our just recompense
and for our actions offer no penitence
our fields long gone fallow wait in suspense
for the word of a dead king “let planting commence”
a king raised to power at our expense
John G. Lawless
©12/13/2021
Categories:
farthings, confusion, political, power,
Form: Monorhyme
I wish I had a ha'penny,
I'd spend it on a whim.
I'd share it with my best friend,
Spend half of it on him.
I wish I had a ha'penny,
two farthings it would be.
One for my best friend,
the other one for me.
Into the shop we both would go,
With all our riches there to show.
We would buy a bag of sherbet,
and a licorice stick to dip.
Each taking turns to dip and lick,
Until it all was gone.
I wish I had a ha'penny,
But sadly I have none.
© Dave Timperley 10 April 2017.
Categories:
farthings, best friend, fun, nostalgia,
Form: Rhyme
Four Farthing For Four Chews.
We only had a penny each but it could buy four chews
In the days when it was four farthings to a penny
Glass jars lined up like soldiers; it was so hard to choose
There were not lots of flavours, but there was many…
In the days when it was four farthings to a penny
Then they changed it to halfpennies, but not the price of the chew
There were not lots of flavours, but there was many…
When they cut the penny, not into four, but into two
Then they changed it to halfpennies, but not the price of the chew
Now we could not even buy four sweets
When they cut the penny, not into four, but into two
Pocket money could not now buy the treats
Now we could not even buy four sweets
Glass jars lined up like soldiers; it was so hard to choose
Pocket money could not now buy the treats
We only had a penny each, but it could buy four chews.
Entry for Pantoum Contest
© ~GG~ 06 09 2012
England Chews Different types of individually wrapped sweets. Decimalisation meant we could not get four for a penny any more only two.
Categories:
farthings, nostalgia, money,
Form: Pantoum
I remember the humble penny
although not humble when i a child
one could divide it by four farthings
shared with one’s parents then one for me.
Although not humble when i a child
one quarter saved in the old tea pot,
shared with one’s parents then one for me
saving for another rainy day.
One quarter saved in the old tea pot
sitting snug and warm on the mantel,
saving for another rainy day
until the day of dad’s funeral.
Sitting snug and warm on the mantel
one could divide it by four farthings,
until the day of dad’s funeral
I remember the humble penny.
© Harry J Horsman 2012
Categories:
farthings, day, history, old, parents,
Form: Pantoum