Going To The Fair I Chanced Upon A Riddle, Ghost-Guessed

[to Gerard Manley Hopkins

and so many others]

and can it be fair a something sadly silvered said- that

everywhere, the fair copies of the fair departed

wishing on no star that heard-

have sold at auction for more than half a kingdom

in their day?

beaten back in life by critics, critical neighbors,

distant cousins, ever more distant,

a stray citizen or two with nothing else to do

than scorn a wastrel poet, artist, troubadour

with nothing to show for all that "fiddle-faddle."

can it be fair that they eked out a life

that in after years reaped ah such golden gains

for those aspiring to play the game

 and what is this lag for except

to torture the blessed

beyond reproach,- now.

mary angela douglas 7 october 2014

Note on poem: "ghost guessed" in title reference to a line in one of Gerard Manley Hopkin's poems; I leave you to find which one. same with use of "fiddle faddle" a reference to a Marianne Moore poem. So, two riddles for you, if you wish. There are so many more as I'm sure you are aware being yourself, in life, where so many things are not fair, or if they are fair (as in beauty), quickly fade away...