Joust a Minute...

A poem for children for a writing group I attend.

Annie Cooper was a medieval peasant,
She was wild and free, funny and pleasant.
She got on with her work without even pouting,
But Annie had a secret - she really liked jousting.

Annie had a friend in the Junior Joust Club,
A local squire called Johnny McBub,
But of all the teams and organisations,
Johnny wanted to be in the Cheer-maidens.

They devised a plan to fulfil each desire,
It was simple really - they’d swap attire.
Annie wore his armour, grabbed his lance and hat,
Johnny wore a straw wig that wouldn’t lie flat.

They went off to practice and it was all going well,
Annie’s turn arrived and nobody could tell.
She unhorsed her opponents again and again,
Got maximum points against all the young men.

The instructors smiled and said ‘best in the realm’,
Annie jumped off her horse and took off her helm.
The crowd gave a gasp and lips gave a curl,
When they realised the jouster was just a little girl.

But Annie was too good - they just changed the rule,
And Annie was allowed to go to joust school.
The issue with Johnny wasn’t even that big,
He was allowed to cheer - just not wear the wig.