Poetry Forum

Oop Ont' Ilkley Moor

Violet misplaced her innocence
parked in bluebells
on the backseat of a Chrysler
Sunbeam. Clive, was his name.

Just as gypsy Petulengro read,
they walked out in March,
found the road to love
in April and, when she said

he may, they went bar t'at.
A passing duck laced his boots
sensing worms. As the blossom
of passion steamed her glasses

she smelt of the spring.

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Footnotes
The Yorkshire Anthem is Ilkley Moor Bar T'at.
Bar t'at - is a dialect expression meaning 'without a hat'.

Clive found his thrill oop Ont' Ilkley Moor, I see. I found the piece reminiscent of Fats Domino's Blueberry Hill. Kind of a Brit version with some very nice bits. Without even knowing the gypsy reference, the line added some color to the scene. Love that expression, 'they went without hat'! For some reason it evoked the Joe Cocker/Randy Newman tune and antithesis, 'You can leave your hat on.' I was wondering if that passing 'chap' was truly suspecting rain while ducking to tie his shoes or just copping a peek at Violet's assets. I don't really have any suggestions for the poem, but wanted to let you know that I enjoyed this.

Interesting that you pick up on that meaning of 'duck', I hadn't thought of the voyeurism - the reference was to the unofficial version of the song, "where the ducks play football."

I'm still smiling at your rewrite of the Fats Domino song, I shall try it out at the next karaoke at the Wheel Tappers and Shunters Club.

Thank you for the comments.

jeremyyoung

ChristopherSea

jeremyyoung