Sunday, October 4, 2009

Sent To Coventry



Greenwich Village
By Ronald Brooks Kitaj

SIMPLY SNICKERS
http://simplysnickers.blogspot.com/2009/09/poetry-prompt-through-sunday-september_

SENT TO COVENTRY

The Whimsy.

The good people of Greenwich Village, where all the artists are,
Took a sudden dislike to me, and I think they went too far.
All of them 'sent me to Coventry', by turning their heads away!
No-one would deign to speak to me! I decided not to stay!
Was it my English accent? Was it my turn of phrase?
Was it something that I said? Or my funny little ways?
I thought them rather boorish, not giving me a chance!
Only two little men with a shifty look gave me a passing glance!
So here I am in Coventry, having suffered their disdain.
And I've made up my mind that I'll never visit Greenwich Village again!
*
The History.

Where did that odd phrase come from? 'Sent to Coventry'?
It's been used in England for ages, with familiarity.
But few people know where it came from, or from whence it was derived,
Or why, for many hundreds of years, the little phrase has survived.
Whenever a certain person's snubbed and left out of the loop,
This phrase is is uttered to signify rejection by the group.
It appears that Coventry was named after the Covin-Tree,
And the Covin-Tree was a gallows! It's all simplicity!
So the good people of Greenwich Village consider me socially dead!
I'll go where I'm appreciated! I think they're too ill-bred!
*

Another important meaning here:




1 comment:

LA Nickers said...

A super stretch!

How creative you are!