Hiring Fair

Hiring Fair

Youngsters from the not well off

Dressed, packed and sent away

To a town for hiring

At the nearest hiring fair

 

Choice so little as to their plight

Nothing could they do

Many unfortunate suffered so

At the hands of the hiring folk

 

Little words of comfort

Silent tears upon the pillow low

Ever showered these unfortunate folk

Often the product of poor wealth

 

Humiliated there like cattle

Bought or sold within a mart

Waiting for the highest bidder

Not knowing what to expect

 

Sad and lonely hours were spent

At the mercy of their hirer

No respect shown onto the

The unfortunate vulnerable victims of the past

 

Dependant on a wage of kind

To help provide for their family

Their toil was done without complaint

And abuse diverse they quietly took

 

Think of them, the victims

Of a society with little care

Creating hurt, pain and fear

For the unfortunate with no say

 

Boy or girl, it didn’t matter

Bought and sold they were

Goods exchanged for human stock

At the Hiring Fairs of old

 

Remember them, now and then

Of what victims did endure

Brave and loyal people

Who did all for kith and kin

By Catherine OKane