homepage

Images of Lt. Canfield

Little Canfield

Benet Canfield

Recorder's report 2008

Little Canfield church runs a stall at the Countess of Warwick’s Country Show at Little Easton every year.For many years we have sold burgers and hot dogs, but for a couple of years now we have also had a hog roast and sold pork, with crackling, in rolls as well. So, in this year of the Dunmow Flitch Trials it seems appropriate to bring to your attention a poem written by a past Rector of Little Canfield. When you visit the show on August Bank Holiday Sunday and Monday, remember our Rector who was an amateur architect and poet.

TO A ROAST PIG

• O pig, or rather, little pork, once pig,
  Smoking so daintily upon the table,
  Making each gazer long that he were able
  To eat thee every limb both small and big;

• No more in squeaking flight, or grunting jig,
  Thou runn'st about the straw-yard, sty, or stable ;
  Nor bump'st thy little side against the gable;
  Nor cock'st thy snout, a judge without a wig!
  
• All other viands which I ever saw
  Serv'd up in silver, crockery-ware, or tin,
  Whether boil'd, roasted, bak'd, stew'd, fried, or raw,
  
• Compar'd with thee are worthless as a pin !
  Sweet delicate meat! Crackling without a flaw !
  What ho ! a knife and fork ! I must begin !

A poem by The Rev. C. Lesingham Smith

Rector of Little Canfield

Privately printed 1868.