The Fish Hawker

Cherry

By skinner_jennifer

Sun, 25 Feb 2024
  • 1361 reads
20 comments
 

I wonder! Did Mary Kelynack's

strength come from the briny?

For as weary flow of watchful

tide fishing boats did arrive,

 

then waves bringing ravenous

gulls each day endeavouring

to plunder Newlyn, harbour

bay.

 

Cornish folk, sweeping storms

at their door would speak of

this fish Hawker; paragon with

heavy haul.

 

Pondering what William, Mary's

husband felt; when taking matters

under her belt, and local gossip

was rife with doubt,

 

she trekked three hundred miles

or more; to London not wavering

at all, questioning retirement

pension filled with awe.

 

Lord Mayor acknowledged

plight, trudging cobbles with

determination; never giving up

the fight to keep on moving.

 

Mary Kelynack inspired a Polka...

or so they say, lived well passed

eighty with creaky joints, but no

feeble weakling was she.

 

I find her story so inspiring,

baskets filled with salt and fish,

had a smile of hopeful happiness,

this humble soul from Newlyn bay.

 

Information about Mary Kelynack:

below.

 

Discovering Mary Kelynack’s polka – Cornish Trad

Certificate U
Poem
Poems
Travel
Biography
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)

Comments

Submitted by Turlough on

Hats off to Mary Kelynack, and to you too Jenny for writing such an interesting, educational and enjoyable poem.

 

I've got...

Do do do. Come on and do the polka. 
Do do do. Wet fish across the floor.

stuck in my head now. 

laugh

Turlough

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Ha! Ha!, I loved your little verseTurlough, Mary I'm sure would have liked it too. It's made my day that you thought it was interesting and educational. I agree hats off to Mary and her courage not to give up.

Thank you for your cheery comment. smiley

Jenny. smiley

 

 

Submitted by Turlough on

It would be very wrong of me to take the credit for the verse Jenny. I stole it from the song 'Do the Conga' by those rock legends, Black Lace.

Here's a link for you to conga or polka to...

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0V6N4elMVX4

 

Turlough

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

The Conga! Now there's a memory jerker I recall from many house parties. One New Years Eve we did the conga down the street and met up with people coming out the pub. It was hilarious. Happy Days. smiley

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

This makes me want to return to Cornwall, Jenny, I haven't been back for years, since a very cold Easter with the children. I hadn't heard of this lady, Mary Kelynack. She sounds like an absolute legend. What a life! I bet she slept well at night.

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Jane,

Cornwall is such an inspirational place isn't it? Like you I haven't been there for years, but maybe one day I'd like to visit Newlyn bay as I've never been there.

I also had no idea about Mary until recently, so you're not alone. How she walked over 300 miles at 84 is amazing....I get tired walking 3 miles leave alone 300. I suppose it comes down to the fact that she walked every day carrying heavy baskets of fish and salt, so her legs would have been very fit, she must have been strong too.

It's nice to receive your kind words of encouragement. Many thanks.

By the way, I really hope you get to go to Cornwall again. Go why your young and fit. wink

Jenny. smiley

 

 

Submitted by marandina on

That's a wonderful story and so well told through your poem, Jenny. A lovely read, for sure.

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Paul,

I wasn't sure this poem would work, so your kind comment has made my day. Mary Kelynack was such an inspiration to never give up hope. I was so glad that she got her pension sorted out. What a woman!

Glad you enjoyed. You put a big smile on my face. smiley

Thank you Paul.

Jenny. smiley

 

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Many thanks for the cherries Editors. I shall award them to Mary Kelynack, she deserves them.

Jenny. smiley

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

What a fascinating story Jenny - thank you so much for sharing it. I couldn't find the reference to sorting out her pension from that link, only that she wanted to make sure Cornish women were represented at the Great Exhibition and/or give the Queen a turbot (hopefully not, because it was a very long walk!)

Very well deserved cherries!

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi insert,

It was written down in other information that Mary's husband William was a fisherman, and Mary had problems sorting out his and her pension. I read this in another piece of information,  I shall try and find the reference and put it on. 

Mary Kelynack would thank you kindly for reading, as do I.

Jenny. smiley

 

 

 

Submitted by celticman on

walking, dancing and prancing, words on the page, set the stage. (does sound quite far though). 

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Yes! It does seem very far to walk, especially for a woman of her age. I think she took five weeks to trek all that way, an astonishing challenge even for the fittest.

Thank you for reading and your thoughts Jack, much appreciated.

Jenny. smiley

 

Submitted by D G Moody on

Lovely poem Jenny, and congrats for the cherries. Oddly enough I've never been to Cornwall - Devon was my limit; probably due to distances - the same takes me north, where I love to be.

Dougie Moody

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Dougie,

There are so many beautiful coastlines up North to explore, that I can understand why you've never been to Cornwall. I used to have a passion for wandering around fishing harbours and bays, exploring caves and cliff tops, but I'm far more used to writing about these places now.

As I've mentioned I've never been to Newlyn bay, so have no idea about the place either. I'm very grateful to you for reading and the comment was appreciated.

Many thanks.

Jenny. smiley

 

Submitted by D G Moody on

Thanks Jenny. I think what put us off, is that we heard so much about the 'yoof' descending in swarms into Cornwall during summer, plus the holiday lets (which we also have in Norfolk). In contrast, for less travelling we can find ourselves 'oop north' on wide open beaches with few people, plus (still) not yet 'Chelsyfied' coastal villages and towns. I guess I'm just a northen lad wink

Dougie Moody

Submitted by Tom Brown on

Very interesting Jenny, a strange world to me. I like the Afrikaans word "trekked" ! Why did you type it all in bold it's a bit harsh on the eye?

Good to see you writing, hope you're well! All the best! Tom

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Tom,

sorry the bold type was harsh on the eyes, it was just how I felt like writing it at the time. Glad you found it interesting though.

I'm fine, hope you are too and thanks for the comment.

Jenny. smiley

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

I'm sorry I missed this Jenny. And have missed you writing recently. I hadn't  heard of this lady. Quite some walk! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Rhiannon,

lovely to hear from you. I couldn't resist this story about Mary when I found it, just had to write something about her.

I'm having fun writing a long story, which is why I haven't been writing any poetry for ages.  But I don't want to put it on abc tales until it's finished. Being one of those never ending stories it will probably take me ages to finish, but that's okay, it's keeping me occupied which is a good thing.

Thank you for stopping by to read and many thanks for leaving a kind comment.

Jenny. smiley