Two Cheese Rolling Poems

Dave Farrance, A race at the Cooper’s Hill Cheese Rolling

The Blessing of the Cheese

At Randwick Church, on 5th of May,
The Merry Month, so greening,
There were some special words to say,
All ripe with mystic meaning.

The priest spoke: “Blessèd is the Cheese!”
Of three round Double Gloucesters.
And all who could, fell to their knees,
As per the sacred rosters.

Then all processed outside the Church,
To set the Cheeses rolling.
And every bird watched from its perch
And sang like bells a-tolling.

The Cheeses travelled widdershins
Around the churchyard. Lastly,
One Cheese was eaten (there were grins)
And two kept, most steadfastly.

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Rollin’

Cooper’s Hill, Spring Bank Holiday, last week in May,
see the cheese-chasers here, lining up at the top!
Crowds have come in their thousands to watch the display.
Minutes more, and the master will make the first drop.

See the cheese-chasers here, lining up at the top,
from the States, Japan, Brockworth… all over the world!
Minutes more, and the master will make his first drop
and the cheese set a-rolling, the chaos unfurled.

From the States, Japan, Brockworth… all over the world,
these are chasers who rush to the roar of the crowds
and the cheese set a-rolling, the chaos unfurled,
while the Sun’s smiling golden and round through the clouds.

These are chasers who rush to the roar of the crowds –
they’re away! And they’re down! And they’re up! And they roll
while the Sun’s smiling golden and round through the clouds.
Ouch, look out! Oof, that’s bad! Someone’s tripped on a hole.

They’re away! And they’re down! And they’re up! And they roll
till all’s stopped by a wide wall of muscular men.
Ouch, look out! Oof, that’s bad! Someone’s tripped on a hole.
Heads are hit, bodies bruised, and the cheese rolls again…

till all’s stopped by a wide wall of muscular men.
Crowds have come in their thousands to watch the display –
heads are hit, bodies bruised, and the cheese rolls again,
Cooper’s Hill, Spring Bank Holiday, last week in May.

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Published in Snakeskin, June 2024

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I first heard about the Cooper’s Hill cheese rolling at school, as part of a class project titled ‘Curious Customs’. The thought of it stayed with me, but for some reason we never attended the event, even before my illness took hold. These days I‘m very happy to watch-party it all with a friend who appreciates such things. We watch on the BBC.

It really is spectacular; for a few highlights from this year‘s races, just click here! The countries mentioned in my poem were the winners two years ago. As well as the famous downhill races, there are races uphill, for two different age categories of children and for the adults. These tend to be quite a lot longer than the rolls down, though some participants do take the descent in a rather leisurely fashion sometimes! That‘s understandable, as in previous years there have been broken bones and worse. I think everyone is incredibly brave.

The school project hadn‘t mentioned the blessing; my online research led me to the Randwick Wap, a series of events in Randwick. The updated website is here.

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Next: The Loon in June