Guilds

in the town
don't ask whose man
I am
instead ask
to which guild
I belong

remember
some guilds are
older than
town charters

each special industry
goes to the seigneur
here a bishop
who will
for a fee
grant the privilege
of a guild

they say in Paris
there are as many
as 350 professions
each one with a guild

even just a few
shops is enough
for a guild
but many more
is all the better

men's shoes
woman's shoes
children's shoes
each one a guild

if you make your
children's shoes
big enough for
a man or a lady
watch out
we'll sue

if you run a restaurant
don't bake your bread
yourself
that's what bakers do
watch out or we’ll sue

don't open shop
without our consent
less we burn your products
and place you in the pillory

all conditions of labor
are ours to decide
- hours and days of working
- precise quality of goods
- the size of everything
- no night work (unless coffin maker)
- day before festival close at three
- feast day close (unless pastry maker)

Not a union
no sir
all members
are employers

we've each
got our patron saint
and a chapel for her
where we keep our
banner proud
and unfurl her
on the feast days

we're for the lucky
we watch our
flock with tender care
should you die or grow ill
we're there for you
count upon it

if you've ambition
then be an officer
in our guild
you can't do better
once elected you'll
be our flag carrier.


[Loosely based on a passage in Life on a Mediaeval Barony by W. S. Davis.]