On The Shearing Of Cavorting Sheep Poem by Sidi Mahtrow

Brunel, an ass of note, had a dream
In which he was on a plain
Between the mountains and the sea
Where all lived in great prosperity.

The Beginning –

But something was wrong he thought (remember, he was asleep)
For not all was right with in this 'confusion of sheep'
They seemed to have lost their way
Instead of work all they did was play.

And further yet, as was well known
The 'clashing of rams' had been silenced, then neutered and shorn.
For the 'crook of shepherds' of the flock
Had decided their tails to dock
And with a stroke of the knife
They were altered for life.

Now some would say, all was not so bad
For this 'silence of rams' who had been had
Now could gamble and play
With the 'emasculate of wethers' who'd been altered in the same way.

It was known far and wide
That the 'mortgage of Owners' of the flock had lied
When he had promised nirvana to all
Who answered the 'stench of shepherd's' call.
But the 'cod of wethers' had embarked on a journey
That would not end in their siring progeny.

While the altered ones frolicked in gay abandon
Others were expected to be less wanton
And do the work that must be done
In shouldering burdens in the mid-day sun.

Apparent, it had become
That others were more equal than some
With special privileges of food and drink
As well as things only imagined; wink, wink.

The 'wander of ewes' thought that this was the best of life
When they no longer were to be a 'dominant of ram's' 'ridicule of wife(s) '
And they likewise could dilly-dally as they chose
With not a moment to lose.

The Discovery -

Alas, came shearing time
And all the 'leap of sheep' were herded into line
To lose their coat to the 'debt of Owner's' benefit
And their disposition, was as he saw fit.

The 'green of grass' to which they had become accustomed
Withered and turned brown where they were pastured.
Too little 'cascade of water' was there to drink
And 'a cask of wine', never offered lest you think
That the 'watch of shepherds' would share
His bounty with those in his care.

Now as night and dark descended
The 'worry of sheep' wondered what was intended
For the 'bark of dog' that had been their constant companion
Was thought to be consorting with the 'hunger of wolves' with abandon.

Huddled there as 'follow of sheep' do so
They really had no place to go
And crowded atop one-another
Without concern for their 'kin of brother(s) .'

The Rewards –

And in the forn i a 'ray of sun'
Which rose as a new 'winter of days' begun
It was clear to all that trusting to 'an inflation of government(s) '
Had been the cause of this tragic event.

In assuming that the 'lust of Man (men) ' would provide
For protection of their very 'cover of hide(s) '
They made a foolish choice
In listening to the 'lure of siren's' voice
And gave up the 'passion of freedom' they had known
For promises of a 'better of life.' Oh, woe begone.

The 'hunger of wolves' (and 'pack of dogs') did slay
Many a 'panic of sheep' come 'dark of night' before 'break of day'
And the 'carron of crows' and 'soar of turkey buzzards'
Did feast of the remains of the 'tender of shepherd's' wards.

The Consequence -

And the 'cur of dogs' grew fat and lazy feeding on the unsuspecting 'ramble of lambs'
Who seemed not to learn from the tragedy of their 'nurse of dams'
While the 'watch of shepherds' continued to do what 'laze of shepherds' do
That is to work only when their 'threat of master' was in view.

And the 'virile of Man' as he was called
Was not so wise to be appalled
In seeing the declining state
Which portended their well-earned fate.

The 'commute of Man' lived apart from them all
Enjoying life and leisure in 'laze of Summer' and in 'leaves of Fall.'
Until that fateful day
When 'wrath of Mother Nature' had her say.

There no longer was an abundance to share
The 'idyllic of pastures' and 'bounds of fences' fell into disrepair
And there was no peace or tranquility
For the 'ravenousness of wolves' now attacked with impunity.

The 'license of dogs' learned that their brethren the 'stalk of wolves'
Had only their interest in the 'togetherness of droves'
Being driven to slaughter,
And to the 'cowardice of dogs' gave no quarter.

However, in time the 'wild of wolves' faced ‘taste of famine'
As the 'graze of sheep' herd was depleted in time
No longer provided their grisly repast
And as had been, in times past.

The 'laze of shepherds' sleeping under the 'cover of tree(s) '
Learned that their charges were not to be
Substituting fine 'spring of lamb' and 'tough of mutton' stew
With hard rock soup, was what they had to do.

The Reckoning –

And on the day of reckoning
When the 'vault of banker's' call came a beaconing
The 'deficit of Man' found that he was short
Of 'equity of stock' to report.
And was forced to give up
His golden cup
And the luxurious place in the sun
For forn i a was now in total ruin.

The Awakening –

Such it was that Brunellus did dream
Of such a dreadful thing
And was glad when he awoke
And prayed that it had been a joke
To so portray the influence
That removed any semblance
Of dignity or free will
In exchange for a promise to cure every social ill.

s

Brunel or Brunellus the ass found much to be concerned about in his escaping from his master, seeking a longer tail, have a try at school, sampling the different religious orders, thinking of establishing one of his own, returning to his owner and in parting (from the book: 'grant this be a warning to all men, ... not the sounds of words but what they mean...) Nigel Longcamp or Nigellus Wierker if you prefer, wrote Speculum stultorum (Mirror of Fools) in the twelfth-century. Being a priest, he indulged himself in pointing out the bountiful excesses of the Church and its followers in the delightful satire which touches on many of man's weaknesses. The Latin work has been translated by Graydon W. Regenos and more recently by J. H. Mozley. Read either, but I prefer the Regenos version which reflects more the twist, turns and puns of Wierker, aka Longcamp.

James Lipton and his 'An Exaltation of Larks' and the predecessor, 'The Book of St. Albans' is referenced to those who might like to indulge in the 'act' of venery. Be aware that there are six families: Characteristics (lie of politicians) , Appearance (slick of politicians) , Habitat (den of wolves) , Comment (catch of fish) , Onomatopoeia (associated sounds, i.e. gaggle of geese) , and Error (shoal instead of school of fish) . Indulge!