The Fair County Tale
Laijon Liu 20240225
Fair County rests in the heart of soul desire
landlocked by the rivers, mountains and woods
the dewy meadow puts on her timely fashion
bearing the colors of gorgeous, fruits and serene
seasons bring her blossoms and snow
in between her periods of sprouting and gold
a country road leads to the Fair County
an unpeopled pathway to the barter trade
that road leads to the unworldly town
to the land of pastoral, the tumbling meadow
to the dense forest and gurgling brooks
meanders up to the rumbling hills, into the night
cool breeze blankets the meadow and hills
Full moon rises above the overhang cliff
Mrs. Meh’s hut sits by the tumbling meadow
her seven kids graze and romp in the green
lavish tall grass, rich fragrant soil
that gives plenty in sunny and rain
Mrs. Meh rounds up her kids and says:
“the meadow is close to the town
where Sheriff Shepherd serves
don’t go near to the dark woods
the hills and rivers you should fear
heed my words and just stay put.”
Mrs. Meh is bleating busy, making cream,
trimming fleece, sewing cashmere
at dusk, she rests in her rocky chair
reads the puzzle newspaper of the Fair County
Fair County Puzzle Newspaper headline says:
[A New Comer Is Coming To Our Town!]
he is a gentleman sort of fancy suits
a frontier entrepreneur wearing many hats
he knows the deep roots of our tradition
and invents future hi-tech of artful intellect
he is a solo maverick, a head of winning pack
he’ll give us a vision, put our town on the map
he has opened a pawn shop of the folks disappeared
and just bought Moo Dairy, Oink & Egg Farm
he hostile took over Fox Tax Service, Mr. Coyote at Law
he says his humane processing factory only use import meats
he is whistling of love fortune
his enterprise name: World One Landscaping Firm
- He promises he will bring beautiful things for each and everyone of you -
Sheriff Shepherd
Our true best friend serves all his days
still chasing his heydays and bygone days
the one everyone loves and trusts
even for the some of us untrustworthy
his name means the badge of honor
his faith is loyalty and integrity
he becomes a deputy when he hits puberty
guarding the Fair County for her safety
he never backs off, nor backs down
stands tall in deed in the time of need
battle hardened and young at heart
ready to charge on his last breath to fulfill his duty
his pet peeves: don’t mess with his meal
don’t toss a ball and tell him to go fetch.
The Wallow Song
detached from the world and reality
rest in the mire of content and comfort
not to care or worry about any big news
never feel the need of making changes
life as it is, and it can’t make any better
just head down, manage the day-to-day’s
if worse comes to the worst, look around
there many of us rolling on the ground
dreams never happen in our slumber
minds on a blank erases the scenery in our eye
oh, senses only driven by a good appetite
so nothing really tastes or smells that bad
don’t wish upon a pig to take wing
and let all things ride it out in a rut.
The Calling
When you see the moon rising over a cliff
Do you think of me? That I should be there.
When the wind blowing your hair and meadow grass,
Do you feel my presence and my warmth?
We have been thru the woods many times,
I was always there in the shadow, accompanying you.
Into the cold spring you dipped your bare feet, shivering walked in naked,
I was there watching and taking in your scent.
You have stuck in a lonely cabin for too long,
and forgotten you are waiting for a prince.
Lie down now, feel the earth that gives you birth,
feel the heavy breath, and torrid kisses.
Be brave my love, I am coming.
You with me together forever.
The Coming
dust swept up by the wind swirling
hard put life under the scorching sun
seasons of scavaging and shearing
time winds and weaves on the wheel
mills, bakeries, saloon and church
soon sold to the banks and pharmacies
the new comer on the hilltop leading his pack
looking over the meadow and Fair County
his white gloves and cowboy hat
his getup for rumble and tumble
change comes on a coin toss
on the spin of a Colt, on a fast draw
Fair County, a tale of coming
in the flocking meadow by the misty wood.
Note:
this piece is inspired by The Wolf and the Seven Kids.
Mrs. Meh, The Wolf, Sheriff Shepherd and pigs are four forms of human life thru my observation of our society. Mrs. has unique skill of workmanship and relies on the society for protection of her family and business. pigs attitude toward life more of the feeling of pinned down majority lower class of Chinese, unable to change so only to get by, the negative lookout toward their situation in the only they try to survive. Sheriff Shepherd is a stickler, hold on his faith tight, ready to throw himself to protect the public and right or wrong like some artists and writers refuse to act and speak as crowd pleasers, just won’t shut up and make the money to just get with the program. I have all my admiration and love for Sheriff Shepherd, the dog character. And the wolf, new and exciting, he promises you the moon. We the people just get tossed around like a maid marries to Sheriff Shepherd but hold endless fancy when we hear that long drawn soulful howl. There are two magical vocals that kill the best opera, wolf howling and whales sing.
