A chance encounter in a charity shop...


Lady from Dresden

You caught my eye with your stern stare,
Reflecting the keenness of the hunter,
And the bloom on your cherubic cheeks
Radiated an innocence of sorts,
But in your right hand you held a musket,
Your own I suspect, given your period garb;
Hunting hat with a flaunty feather,
Green riding coat over a rosebud dress,
Black ankle boots for outdoor use.
From your Hanoverian head to
Your Frankfurter feet you smacked
Of 18th century class and sophistication,
But I had to be sure it was profit at first sight.
I took you from the shelf of tat and trifles
And turned you upside down, looking for a sign,
Not 'Foreign' or 'Made in China', no, something
More refined, a back stamp to match your quaint quality,
And there it was, hidden under the fifty pence label,
Your birthright, your impressed parentage,
Crossed swords forming a guard of honour for
A daughter of Dresden, a maiden of Meissen.

And now you look down at me from the mantelpiece,
The sharp eyes, the pink flesh, the cupid-bow lips,
And no, my lovely, you bagged me without firing a shot.


Chris Fernie, 2016




Poetry by Christopher Fernie The PoetBay support member heart!
Read 827 times
Written on 2016-05-10 at 17:45

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Jamsbo Rockda The PoetBay support member heart!
Very good. You should read it on the Antiques Roadshow :)
2016-05-16


Lawrence Beck The PoetBay support member heart!
This is very good, and quite fun.
2016-05-12



Wow, what a poem! The best I've read all week. I appreciate the subject matter. I have a fancy for poems that make something beautiful out of the mundane. Good sir, you have just earned my heart.
2016-05-11


shells
Brilliant right through to the excellent final line. I love a good charity shop.
2016-05-10


Elle The PoetBay support member heart!
What a lovely surprise to read you here again and with a wonderfully engaging poem full of humour

Elle x
2016-05-10