The Lady of Shallot by Jo Dearden

Perhaps you didn’t hear me
or maybe you forgot
But I’m not the Onion Fairy
I’m the Lady of Shallot

Shallots are small and round and sweet
(folk say I’m good enough to eat)

Illustration © 2016 Chris Riddell

Those Onion Fairies, at their worst,
are big and bulbous, sour and cursed

They flit about you as you chop
They make you cry. They make you sob!

And me? My gift is underused…
…giving flavour to French stews

So please do not mistake me
for the one thing I am not
I’m not the Onion Fairy
I’M THE LADY OF SHALLOT!

Poem ©2016 Jo Dearden
​Image ©2016 Chris Riddell

Illustration © 2016 Chris Riddell