He bought ribbons for my hair,
then kissed me sweet
warm lips on mine in frosted air–
impossible the tasks he set,
so, fare-thee-well to he
I’ll find another yet
next market-day,
ribbon-adorned my hair,
for desires such weighed
in love, all is fair.
A quadrille for dVerse. The prompt word is fair, and I went to ballads and history: the London frost fairs and Scarborough Fair.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
lol, wonderful! glad she’s not settling for some rube!
No, she’s not. Thanks! 😀
I love this. The rhythm makes me want to sing it and what vivid pictures it conjures up.
How wonderful! Thank you so much, Claudia!
Beautiful, Merri! And one of my favorite songs too!
Thank you very much, Jill!
I love, love, love this poem!!
Thank you very much, Liz! 💙💙
You’re welcome, Merril!
I love all those old songs, and you’ve captured the flavor perfectly. (K)
Thank you so much, Kerfe.
The “warm lips on mine in frosted air” is a great line! I got into this character and she can do no wrong! 💞
Thank you so much, Tricia.
I’m pleased you have her back. 😀
Merril- this is truly lovely.
Thank you very much, Linda!
You’re welcome.
This was delightful!
Thank you!
🙂
Really captures a classical rhythm, and bangs on “fair” several times. It comes off as light-hearted on the first read, but the second read reveals sadness between the lines.
Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful comment, Glenn. I’m pleased you read it more than once. 💙
Good fun, but behind it really well-written poetry
Thank you so much. That’s very kind.
Simply gorgeous, Merril, and the character’s voice comes through loud and clear!
pax,
dora
Thank you so much, Dora! 💙
Most welcome.
What a great poem Merril. I love it! She was not one to go home and fret! She is ready to play the game fair or not!
Thank you so much, Dwight. Yes, indeed. She knows what she wants.
:>)
This is an enchanting quadrille Merril! One of my favourite Stevie Wonder songs is ‘All in love is fair’ and you made me think of that 😊 Also, who can imagine the Thames being frosted over now?
Thank you so much, Ingrid. I remember seeing an animated short many years ago about when the Thames was frozen over and people were skating on it. It’s sort of stayed with me.
And I LOVE that Stevie Wonder song. One of my favorite’s too–so achingly beautiful. It played at the end of an episode of the show Scandal and it was in my mind for weeks after that! 😀
how playful 😀 – love it!
❤
David
Thank you, David. 😀
Nice one!I love the rhyme scheme,makes the poem all the more beautiful to read! 🙂
Thank you very much! 😀
Nice, pure and sweet.
Thank you.
Lovely old-fashioned touch to this. Made me think of Thomas Hardy.
Thank you!
Originally I was thinking of those hiring fairs that someone like Tess might have gone to–so you must have sensed that. 😀
It’s what I thought of immediately. And of course, a fairing was one of those ribbons etc you mention.
Yes, of course. I hadn’t thought of that. 😀
This was wonderful! 🎪
Thank you, Rob!
I liked the homonym play with fare thee well. And ’twas fair for her to do.
Thank you, D.!
A delightful sassy poem!
Thank you so much, Beverly!
Like the lady, the opening captured me … and the way she returned caused a smile.
I’m pleased you enjoyed it, Frank! Thank you.
Great poem…I love what you did with this one! 🙂
Thank you! That’s so very kind of you! 😀
This is lovely… it has the feeling of a great ballad…
Thank you so much, Björn!
What larks!
😀
This is absolutely stunning, Merril! 💝💝 I love the image of “warm lips on mine in frosted air.” 😀
I thought the rhythm was like that of Scarborough Fair – brilliant poem – very neat and concise!
Thank you so much, Freya. I’m pleased you thought so. I kept revising it to fit the 44 word form.
such light hearted fun … the song brought back many memories, thanks!
Thank you, Kate!
I thought of Scarborough Fair the minute I started read it :).
Excellent! 😀
I particularly like the frosted air and the circularity of the ribbons. Maybe it’s unfamiliarity with the form but the line lengths seem slightly wrong in the second verse… should they be the same as in the first?
Thank you. The quadrille is a form for dVerse that is a 44-word poem in any style. So, the challenge was to get what I wanted to say using the word fair into 44 words.
Feel free to join us at dVerse!
A quaint tragedy… for he.
Flower Power for her.
Love this, Merril!
Adore the song, and it works perfect.
Thanks so much, Resa!