Fair Day

fair day tinkers came this morning out of the melting sun like a rainbow in a cloud of dust their caravans noisily come music swirled about them and women's ribbons flew in their coal black hair red roses still wet with the morning's dew rat tat tat on the pots and pans rat tat tat on their women too the village men stood stiffly 'round their faces glum mouths turned down when the tinkers came to town the village men burn with lusty fire for tinker girls are sweet but never closer could they come to the swiftly dancing feet 'round and 'round like Christmas tops skirts high above their waist willow withy women danced while their men they robbed the place rat tat tat on the pots and pans rat tat tat on their women too the village men stood stiffly 'round their faces glum mouths turned down when the tinkers came to town anxious to be off again fairy vaner ponies stamped flowing mane and tails held high they pranced around the camp now at dusk and shadows creep too the music all must yield not a blade has been disturbed across that empty field