Have you ever been to a wonderful, exciting spring fair in England? I always loved them when I was a teenager and beyond, crowds of people all out to enjoy themselves, munching on cornet type ice creams and pink sherbet sticks. These incidentally got your hands and clothes sticky for the rest of your visit.The dodgem cars were such fun, the first time I was in charge of a car, being bumped into and bumping my sister in turn. Then in the evening for romance there were lots of lovable rogue fair attendants in their black clothes, long hair and earrings in abundance, who teenage girls would love to have been noticed by. And some were of course.
In my case it was my beautiful daughter Jessica. She had just come back from India and we had gone to stay for a weekend in a bed and breakfast house near the fairground. The poem I think tells her story but I was very relieved when she came back the next morning saying she had slept by the river when she left the fair. Well that is her story......
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From Dorothy Wordsworth, 1800, May 20th in Westmorland
'A fine mild rain. After breakfast the sky cleared and before the clouds passed from the hills I went to Ambleside. It was a sweet morning. Everything green and overflowing with life, and the streams making a perpetual song, with the thrushes and all little birds not forgetting the stone-chats.'
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Spring Fair
The young girl
and her mother, holding hands,
hurry down the hill
where the bright lights beckon,
see the big dippers hurtling,
painted horses swirling, yellow
swing boats diving, swooping,
smell the grease and diesel
hear the loud beat of music,
the children's screams.
Young men of the fair,
long-haired, dark, a little wild,
eye the girls with bright,
knowing looks.
The air is full of restlessness, of quickening,
an urgency to act
before the end of the night,
when the morning light will move them on.
Dusk falls, the young girl drops her mother's hand,
stirred by the primal desire of early spring.
Running silently she disappears into the night, eager
to share what ancient fires of life can bring.
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Half a Pair of People here
As you see, my book 'Half a Pair of People' is now out on Amazon. Look for it in books: Patricia Huth and click here and they will send you a copy if you would like one. Sorry to boast here but I do have nine 5 star reviews and most people seem to find it amusing. Hilarious in fact. As I told you last week I have to do this publicity against my will because I have no publicity agent.
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With very best wishes to you all, Patricia
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