The Morris Men & the Internet

This poem is about the pain of change from long old traditions to the newest innovations and the hope that we can live in a world where the old & new can happily co-exist.

 

It was a dark and stormy night and the rain had set in and after the Morris men had done with their dancing they sat around in the local pub drinking good ale. They ate crisps and nuts and smoked roll ups, they planned their next meeting and with their wives safely tucked away, flirted with the barmaids and local girls.  

 

And all their bells were jingling

And the locals started singing

All the girls were giggling

And real ale they were drinking

 

They were so intoxicated and merry, they hadn’t noticed that in a dark recess of a corner of the pub there sat a lonely hooded figure, wearing a dark cloak. Later on that night the solitary figure lingered at the bar and chatted to the landlord, he had brought with him some boxes, which secretly offered up to him.

 

And all their bells kept jingling

And the locals carried on singing

There were flowers in their hair

And they danced around the square

 

The next May Day meet was a bright and blowy day, but things had changed of late and no one seemed so interested in the Morris Dancers in their funny trousers and hats, people were distracted, they were on their phones and laptops, they had better things to do than watch Bank holiday traditions.

 

And they danced without a care

Threw their arms up in the air

And the flutes and drums did play

As the people drifted away

 

 

That was the day the Internet slunk in bringing with it Wi-fi.

 

Reviews

[JustLorry]

Although we dont have morris men up here, i understand totally the pont you made so eloquently. Isn't it amazing how we have all evolved into having the ability to walk everywhere while looking at a screen in our hands, oblivious to the world around us (he says ruefully, while having a writers website, two e mail accounts open and a download running, while texting and watching tv, flicking the pages of a newspaer while drinking coffee)
:-)

[Junger]

A bit comical in my point of view but very interesting to read :) i like it for the helping of the bold prints which tells any reader whats going on on what

[Coyote Poetry]

Wi-fi took the Internet away. I like your story and the ending of the poem. Thank you for the excellent poem.
Coyote

[kingblaq]

I love the irish/english tavern folk song feel of this piece. Perfect. Write on!

[leighgreen]

What are Morris Dancers? Morris dance is a form of English folk dance usually accompanied by music. It is based on rhythmic stepping and the execution of choreographed figures by a group of dancers. Implements such as sticks, swords, handkerchiefs and bells may also be wielded by the dancers. In a small number of dances for one or two men, steps are performed near and across a pair of clay tobacco pipes laid across each other on the floor.

A bank holiday is a public holiday in the United Kingdom or a colloquialism for public holiday in Ireland

[BLBrown]

I enjoyed this. I am from the US and don't know what "Morris Men," are or "Bank holidays," but gather they are local singers and dancers and holidays. This is about the digital divide and how we are so immersed in gadgets we forget to live. Good poem.

[Marie]

I review this once before, and it's very good. I loves the little rhymes about the morris men.
I just finished writing a story that started with the sentence "It was a dark and stormy night."

[Cathy Wattam]

Interesting poem/story. I happen to love all the old traditions and sometimes see the local Morris Dancers doing their thing. I always think I'd like to join in. The internet, mobile phones and Wi-fi distract us all from the old ways. What happened to the joy of dancing, singing and making merry? It's a little too sad to contemplate. I enjoyed your poem, thank you.

[r. f. jordan]

it is as if we do not know what hooded strangers we have permitted into our realm, because we are too distracted to be aware of what is happening. this is an interesting piece, and well written. thank you for sharing your creativity with us on this site.

[MOON]

Lovely write, yeah we are a strange bunch in the last few years we evolved into a species who has no time to look at the person beside us as we busily text and email people far away.

[Marie]

Very good. When the Internet slinks in, other things are diminished.