Astute Coccinellidae
Yew little Bishy Barnabee
Adhering to my Fortune tree
I wonder what yew make of me
Well spotted, I’m from Blakeney!
Comments
Interesting Christopher
I gather the ladybird can be a sign of good luck and fortune and that the yew also has many folklore connections. There maybe more to this little offering than meets the eye? Bishy Barnabee would appear to be Norfolk slang for the Ladybird and the poets voice is from that area (Blakeney near Holt)
How am I doing? intriguing, Winston
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Christopher Dawson
Mon 2nd Nov 2009 18:10
haha, cheers!
I'm afraid 'Fortune' was a red herring, in as much as it was a Laxton's Fortune apple tree.
But sure, yew got the Norfolk connection; whenever 'you' is written in local dialect it's written thus. Well spotted though ;)
It was an attempt the reflect the rather unique contradictions of an old nofolk man (many of them possess it) very much in tune with the simple life, simply seen and enjoyed.
Many thanks.