23 January 2010

The return of Canada's cheese bard


It's been far too long since James McIntyre graced this blog. For tose who don't know his works, Mister McIntyre was Canada's master of cheese-related poetry.

Here is a tribute to a pioneer of Canadian cheese.

Father Ranney, the Cheese Pioneer

When Father Ranney left the States,
In Canada to try the fates,
He settled down in Dereham,
Then no dairyman lived near him;
He was the first there to squeeze
His cow's milk
into good cheese,
And at each Provincial show
His famed cheese was all the go.

Then long life to Father Ranney
May he wealth and honour gain aye.

He always took the first prize
Both for quality and size,
But many of his neighbors
Now profit by his labors,
And the ladies dress in silk
From the proceeds of the milk,
But those who buy their butter,
How dear it is, they mutter.

Then long life to Father Ranney
May he wealth and honour gain aye.

Now we close this glorious theme,
This song of curds and rich cream,
You can buy your hoops and screws,
And all supplies for dairy use,
Milk cans and vats, all things like these
In Ingersoll great mart for cheese,
Here buyers do congregate
And pay for cheese the highest rate.

So we call on you again aye,
To honor Father Ranney.

8 comments:

Roger B. said...

Started well... but soon began to grate.

Knatolee said...

Hahahha! Good one, Roger!

I am now craving Brie, thank you very much.

SnoopyTheGoon said...

Worth a tear or two, definitely. In the cheesecloth, I mean.

Claude said...

I'm ashamed to say that, sometimes, the Canadian Bard turns me off cheese!!!

roman said...

Mr McIntyre would have loved the state of Wisconsin.
I'm a Camembert guy, myself.

jams o donnell said...

Thanks all. I'm glad the cheese bard elicited responses with his curdled words!

Susan English Mason said...

I found this to be a caerphilly grated cheesy poem. This is the most stupid comment I've ever made but I have decided to leave it anyway with the hope that you might chuckle at its absurdity.

jams o donnell said...

Indeed I did.. I had a grin like a Cheshire cheese cat!