My Day at the Fete...

My Day at the Fete:

Amongst mingling crowds at summer fetes
Children’s' cries of fun and delight
Mothers mooching at white elephant stalls
While fathers quietly sit.

Raising funds for worthy causes,
Monies collected to be well spent
Ex-servicemen seen through windows,
Like goldfish in a bowl!

“Stop me and try, before you buy” and
Then, “pelt that man with a wet sponge”, he cries,
Hot beefburgers with onions and cheese,
Next onto the bouncy castle.

“If you don’t buy my water pistols for only a pound,
I’ll show you how they work”, he hollers,
Children look at that man with the swords in awe,
They’d fancy a shot at that!

Historical highland dancing to the accordion’s tunes
Madame Zea’s mystical powers entrap
Raffles, tombolas, horse rides for the kids
All for the good cause.

The tea bars, like the cups, are overflowing
The weather produces great thirsts and hunger
Cakes, biscuits and buns, coffee, teas and juices
Welcomed with great perspiration.

The flowers and plants that have thrust forward,
Are purchased to ‘take Hollybush home’
“Who’ll buy the last five of the blow up guitars”,
“OK I lied - there’s still three more”.

Music by the school band, army cadets in uniform,
A face-painting stall or beat the goalie to win a prize,
It was a day to be enjoyed by all youngsters,
From three to at least eighty-six!

A year to setup and four or five hours to build
But only two hours to have fun, enjoy and spend,
‘No rest for the wicked’, nor anybody else for that matter,
It was a long day for us all.

© ali-p 2004