The Host's Rap Poem by Douglas Scotney

After the Priest's Tale
of the cock and the fox
in The Canterbury Tales -
in which in Coghill's version
for the sake of a rhyme with 'melancholy'
we get to know that the sheep is called Molly;
in which in Chaucer's original
the same sheep is Malle,
to rhyme with 'halle' -
the Host blesses the Priest's breeches and stones.

For his brawn, great neck, large breasts,
keen eyes, healthy colour -
his obvious vigour -
the Host sympathizes with the ladies missing out:
not just 7 as had the cock -
but 17 times that figure.