Tags
Australian poet, British Gypsies, British Justice, Capital Crimes in old England, Egyptians (Gypsies), Gypsies, Gypsy, Impersonating an Egyptian, poem, poetry, sonnet, Spenserian sonnet, Travellers
Impersonating an Egyptian
“Impersonating an Egyptian is
The charge m’lord — a capital offence.
You’ll notice he has darkened up his phiz,
Wears earrings, gypsy clothes — it’s all pretence.
Found in his pocket was a bright sixpence
For which he can’t account — stolen I’d say.
It’s rumoured that he steals — makes perfect sense.
When he’s accused of this he answers: ‘Nay!’
(He clearly thinks confessing doesn’t pay).
He’s fake! It seems a tinker is his trade.
He looks Egyptian in most every way.
He travels in a caravan — he’s paid
For fixing pots and pans……could I be wrong….?”
“Of course not!” cries the judge, “Your case is strong!”
— D.N. O’Brien
{Impersonating an Egyptian (gypsy) could get you hanged in old England}
dnobrienpoetry 
That’s interesting:
Well my dear fellow, you are Egyptian, and it stands to reason that you must be guilty.
🙂 🙂 🙂
The travellers, as they are known over there now, are not a popular lot to this day.