Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Haber Dashing?



EASYSTREET
 comes up trumps again

(Sorry! I preferred this illustration!)

HABER DASHING?

Would you like to dash some haber?
I'm pretty sure you would!
After all, as an activity, it does sound rather good.
But first you need some haber. Have you got some lying round?
The pretty pink and frilly sort is quite ideal, I've found.
Make sure it fits the dasher or you'll end up in a mess.
My dasher's made of stainless steel and certain to impress.
One final note of caution! Warn the neighbours in good time!
Dashing habers after three o'clock's considered as a crime!
*
Enough of all that nonsense! 'Haprtask' is the right word.
All right! It's rather hard to say, that's why it's rarely heard.
That tricky word's Iclandic, meaning 'small goods' so they say,
The things a pedlar carried round, displaying them on a tray.
Buttons, ribbons, bits and pieces, domestic this and that,
Cottons for my lady's mending, feathers for her hat.
The haberdasher's shop arrived, when pedlars were no more,
And a haberdasher's shop could be a quite substantial store.
*
In his 'Canterbury Tale', Chaucer first used the name, 
Maybe his was the first one with a claim to fame
The Elephant Man began his life in a haberdasher's shop,
And then he was exhibited at fairs and the Big Top.
Famous people started out as haberdashers, too!
Captain Cook and Johnny Carson, Harry Truman! True!
So the haberdasher's counter has many a tale to tell.
I end with a little personal note;
My Dad was one as well!
*


Another haberdasher on this very page!


1 comment:

Kat said...

How interesting to know

Famous people started out as haberdashers, too!
Captain Cook and Johnny Carson, Harry Truman! True!


that your Dad too belongs to the hall of fame..!!!