Before the Queen's Croquet Party by Mari Lynam Fitzpatrick

Mistakes were made  a rose bush was mislaid:
the wrong one was planted 
in the garden  in the enchanted glade.
An instruction had come down from the queen 
but sure not all gardners are as they seem.
For when suits take a hand it's never as grand 

and work may not happen as planned.
The white rose bush should've been red.
Fact was  the queen might take off a head.
So the green fingered boys  between them  devised:
A plan to confuse the queen's dread.

So they bought a bucket of paint.
And down to the garden they went.
And one held the bucket  and one held the rose 
and the other took up paintes's pose.
Then all hell broke loose in the glade.
When one boy realised he'd been played.
Sure his head was a goner  for he did a dishonour
of confusing cooks' onions with old tulip bullion 
that he found  in the shed  in the glade.

And not known the difference herself.
Cook added the roots with the veg.
And when the queen went for dinner 
begad -- there was a prize winner
red tullip growing out of the bread.

'OFF WITH HER HEAD OFF WITH HER HEAD'

Steamed shouts wafted out of the room 
and poor cook fell down in a swoon.
Then the king had no dinner 
and the queen had to wind her 
so she shook her and gave her a spoon 
and said to take the bulbs out she might prune.

So the cook was happy again.
The king ate dinner in his den.
But the queen still fummed 
for someone had assumed
that she'd not spot the difference
in the colour of the red and green veg.
For she'd not seen the tulip at all.

but had ordered green veg when she'd called
twas two green veg  and two fruits de la jus
de la moon to see cook  in the cellar  at noon.
But cook had served carrots and mushrooms and bread.
So confusion reigned in the glade.
As the lads painted over mistakes 
and rumours abounded and nonsense astounded 
as Alice watched the parade ...

Marie Lynam Fitzpatrick  Oct. 2015

WC@ The Linnet's Wings Story Web - All Rights Reserved: 07-25 www.thelinnetswings.org