Please click on the image to view it – the calligraphy does not display too well on the news feed for some reason!
Inspired by the celebrations which take place on May Day in Padstow, Cornwall, my poem features the ‘Obby ‘Oss. There are two Horses (‘Osses!) which parade around the town – the old horse and the new horse. People in the town wear white clothes, and either red scarves to represent the old, or blue for the new ‘oss.
There are huge processions which accompany the different ‘osses, and everyone joins in singing the haunting May Day song. The men, who dress up as the ‘oss cavort about in a wild manner – which is very exciting as the drums and the music play! They attempt to catch young girls in the spirit of the season of fertility, and are encouraged by a ‘teaser’ who eggs them on!
We went along to the May Day parade this year – it attracts an enormous crowd – and I felt compelled by the powerful subject matter to write a poem. hope you like it! X