The Merry Makers



                                                                   Tournier

MAGPIE TALES

http://magpietales.blogspot.com/2011/05/mag-67.html

supplied the art work

THE MERRY MAKERS

'Let us make merry' said Pierre to Henri;

'Let us visit the local hostelry;

Let us find a wench who'll do us proud;

Wenching's something a man's allowed.

We'll hire a musician, and order food,

And get the young lady in the mood.

The younger the better, it seems to me,

When it comes to a night of debauchery.'

They found a wench in need of a shilling,

One who pretended to be quite willing.

They rented a room, the music played,

And, on the table, food was laid.

Claudette was pale and unprepared,

Scarcely formed and mute and scared.

In came Gaston, a slip of a lad,

Expressionless and plainly clad;

A village boy just earning a sou,

A boy whose heart was strong and true.

Pierre and Henri were steeped in wine;

They didn't see the girl's eyes shine.

They didn't see the look of love......

Love wasn't wasn't what they were thinking of.

The waiter fumbled  and hesitated

Serving two men he already hated.

What had she whispered into his ear?

'It's a way of making money, my dear.

Think! We can name our wedding day!

These are rich men! They will pay!'

The food was gone, the musician departed.

And Gaston withdrew,

Broken-hearted.

*

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PERSPECTIVELY SPEAKING

Lines diminishing, lines intersecting,

Not a view that I was expecting.

A world in the sky, it's quite a surprise!

In fact I could scarcely believe my eyes!

The blue shot with silver, the silver with gold,

The leaves so feathery, frames so bold!

I got a really bewildered feeling,

Merely from looking up at the ceiling!

*