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The Hokey-Cokey—Chaucer Style

With music was a dingy tavern blessed,
In Southwark, where we stopped to take our rest.
The Miller, Robin, on his bagpipes played
A tune—the Hokey-Cokey—and he made
Us pilgrims form a circle, where we put
Each arm in first, then out, and then each foot.
Our limbs, extended, heartily we shook,
Mirroring the movements of the Cook,
Whilst patrons of the London tavern clapped
And supped back pints of ale, freshly tapped.

At intervals we turned around to bend
Our knees and stretch our arms, and thereby fend
Off tiredness from riding all day long.
The Knight intoned the lyrics to the song,
As next, whilst holding hands, into the ring
We stepped, cried, “Woah!”—and so, inspired to sing,
Enjoyed the Hokey-Cokey till our tread
Grew weary and ’twas time to go to bed.

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Paul A. Freeman is the author of Rumours of Ophir, a crime novel which was taught in Zimbabwean high schools and has been translated into German. In addition to having two novels, a children’s book and an 18,000-word narrative poem (Robin Hood and Friar Tuck: Zombie Killers!) commercially published, Paul is the author of hundreds of published short stories, poems and articles.

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4 Responses

  1. Roy Eugene Peterson

    Paul, this must have inspired an American dance called the “Hokey-Pokey” that was popular here decades ago! What fun that must have been. Your detailed descriptions brought inspired images to my mind.

    Reply
    • Paul A. Freeman

      The Medieval origin I’ve given to the Hokey-Cokey is fictitious. It dates back to the Second World War, I believe, when a London-deployed Canadian serviceman, a musician, wrote the ‘Hokey-Pokey’ as it was then called, so folk would have a fun, active dance with multiple participants during those dark times. Apparently, a hokey-pokey, was a serving of American/Canadian ice cream, but one of the songwriter’s friends thought ‘cokey’ sounded better.

      I remember participating in the Hokey-Cokey at nursery school, and not particularly enjoying it.

      Since the song and dance started in the West End of London, it became synonymous with Cockneys have a knees up, guv’nor!

      Reply
  2. Martin Briggs

    Most ingenious, Paul. The only time I was pressed into the hokey-cokey, I contrived to get the sequence wrong despite the explicit instructions. Very much enjoyed reading this.

    Reply
  3. Margaret Brinton

    Delightful, Paul! And the street scene reminds me of Grafton Street in Dublin. Could public exhibitions of song and dance be the solution to the world’s strife?

    Reply

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