The Wife of Bath's Tale

Centuries ago
In England
When King Arthur ruled his court

The fairies roamed the woods
Not the lechers in their hoods

And magic was the order of the day

And in that kingdom
There was a Knight
Who swore his oath to do Right

But one day
In the fields
Disgraced a lady

And he took her by force

So he got
Sentenced

To
Death

The Queen
Guinevere
Had mercy in her Soul

Said he is foul
But should learn his lesson
Through a different toll

And being wise
Good King Arthur
He listened to his wife

And he spared
That horrid knight

His
Life

At least then

So she said
Sir, you've had great Clemency
You've a year and day
To find, pithily

What it is
A woman
Wants

He thought it would
Be simple, sure
But not knowing
Where the truth could dwell

He rode around
The realm
This question clear in mind

Some girls said
I want to Learn

And some girls
Said I want to burn
With Passion
For myself
And my lovers

Some girls said
I want the World

And some girls said
I want to go to Hell
In a hand basket
And I can weave it too

But one day
He saw fairies dance
He saw them there
Was it by chance

When he neared their group
They up and disappeared

He saw the fey there in the wood
Their greenest cloaks and golden snoods
He said, oh, please, stay just one moment more

But all that there was left of them
Was an old grey hag
Stood in her rags
And our knight
Cared not for that

Said, hello, young sir
I'll tell you true
What it is the thing you seek
To prove

So long as you do grant
Me, what I ask
In time

And he agreed
So she told him
What it is the thing I will relay

And I swear I think
I like her
More and more

She said
Give them a choice
Let them lift their voice

Let them have free reign
Of life's horse

Let them steer
The course
Of their own Destinies
For them to see

Let them be
Who they must
Needs be

Let them grow
And wander freely
Around this sylvan
Ancient Land

He said
That's all that they want
You're sure

And she said
Oh Lord
Must I endure
The presence of this
Oaf without a mind

So he thanked her
And he went with her
To wend his way
Back to Arthur

And he hoped
That she had
Given sound advice

They rode
Over the castle's moat
Through gates
Of Camelot

The Knight stood there
For Guinevere
Told her what she
Hoped to hear

And she sat back
And said
Now That's
The word

He said
Well, now, I've answered true
So the crone said
Good, now, I'll have you

And he cried
No, please, no
Anything but that

They were married then
And she asked him
Dear knight, why do you
Seem so grim

And he said
You're poor
Have grime
And you are past your prime

I don't know why she wanted him
He was cruel
And he was a great fool
But I guess that you cannot
Account for taste!

Patiently, she verily
Said wealth
Is not Morality

Youth brings risk
And beauty
Lies within

But, all right
My Knight
I'll offer you
To be young and fair
But you may have to fear
That I will stray away from you

Or you can have me
Old and grey
But Loyal every single day

Not that those
Should be
The only selections left

But he had somewhat
Understood
That women should have
Their own rule

So replied, Dear Wife
I leave it all to you
To choose

And with that
He saw
Her change

Into a
Lovely
Young maiden

And she sighed
And said, because you
Let me have my way

I will remain this way
With you
Forever and a day
With you

At least until
I find
My next husband

So that's my tale
Hope you've listened well
I was born under Venus and Mars as well

So I'm lusty
But I'm also wise
And I know all about the life of wives

So remember, one
And two and three
That women want
Their sovereignty

And that's all
That I have to say
For now

So experience has value
And my life
Is testament

To the worth of worlds
Not just of words
I've shared my piece

Goodnight
And
Farewell