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The Hokey-Cokey—Chaucer Style
With music was a dingy tavern blessed,
In Southwark, where we stopped to take our rest.
The Miller, Robin, on his bagpipes played
A tune—the Hokey-Cokey—and he made
Us pilgrims form a circle, where we put
Each arm in first, then out, and then each foot.
Our limbs, extended, heartily we shook,
Mirroring the movements of the Cook,
Whilst patrons of the London tavern clapped
And supped back pints of ale, freshly tapped.
At intervals we turned around to bend
Our knees and stretch our arms, and thereby fend
Off tiredness from riding all day long.
The Knight intoned the lyrics to the song,
As next, whilst holding hands, into the ring
We stepped, cried, “Woah!”—and so, inspired to sing,
Enjoyed the Hokey-Cokey till our tread
Grew weary and ’twas time to go to bed.
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Paul A. Freeman is the author of Rumours of Ophir, a crime novel which was taught in Zimbabwean high schools and has been translated into German. In addition to having two novels, a children’s book and an 18,000-word narrative poem (Robin Hood and Friar Tuck: Zombie Killers!) commercially published, Paul is the author of hundreds of published short stories, poems and articles.
Paul, this must have inspired an American dance called the “Hokey-Pokey” that was popular here decades ago! What fun that must have been. Your detailed descriptions brought inspired images to my mind.
The Medieval origin I’ve given to the Hokey-Cokey is fictitious. It dates back to the Second World War, I believe, when a London-deployed Canadian serviceman, a musician, wrote the ‘Hokey-Pokey’ as it was then called, so folk would have a fun, active dance with multiple participants during those dark times. Apparently, a hokey-pokey, was a serving of American/Canadian ice cream, but one of the songwriter’s friends thought ‘cokey’ sounded better.
I remember participating in the Hokey-Cokey at nursery school, and not particularly enjoying it.
Since the song and dance started in the West End of London, it became synonymous with Cockneys have a knees up, guv’nor!
Back when I was a member of a pick-up band in rural Arizona, the Hokey-Pokey was an important part of our playlist, Roy. Obama destroyed that community with new regulations pertaining to cattle grazing, but I’ll bet it’s still played somewhere out there.
Hokey-Pokey in Arizona, 2025:
https://www.facebook.com/reel/585652151289072/
Thanks for commenting, C.B.
Most ingenious, Paul. The only time I was pressed into the hokey-cokey, I contrived to get the sequence wrong despite the explicit instructions. Very much enjoyed reading this.
I imagine during World War Two the Hokey-Cokey would have been a piece of frivolity that brought people together. Alas, like the Conga dance, I’ve never really been into team dancing events.
Thanks for reading and commenting, Martin.
Delightful, Paul! And the street scene reminds me of Grafton Street in Dublin. Could public exhibitions of song and dance be the solution to the world’s strife?
It could be one of the solutions, Margaret, and every little would help.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
Great poem and accompanying history lesson. I would enjoy spending time in a tavern where a bagpiper spontaneously rallied the patrons to do something like this. It probably won’t happen in Texas.
Even the bagpipes are bigger in Texas!
Paul,
If I am ever transported back into time, remind me to avoid Southwark! In truth, your delightful poem would make a perfect script for a Monty Python skit.
A Monty Python script! There can be few greater compliments.
Thanks for reading and commenting, James.
Paul, I too recall this dance as an unwelcome school activity. That was especially because it requires no skill and naturally leads to silliness by “class clowns” who ordinarily misbehave by breaking rules. I suppose it is an authorized outlet for comics who desire to attract attention, and for similar reasons would be excellent tavern entertainment, particularly when “calling” is done by a respected authority figure such as the Knight. I have to contrast it with learning square dancing in school, which I enjoyed because it was a challenge to perform well. And that was precisely why square dance lessons took place only at higher levels of school!
Thanks for reading and commenting, Margaret.
I’m hoping when I have time to expand this poem to include a wider variety of the pilgrims, with their dance style mirroring their personalities.
I understand the contrast you’ve drawn between the Hokey-Cokey and line dancing. When I teach writing, early on I drum into my students the necessity of care and accuracy and rules.