POCHSPIEL THE JOKER POKER

Many years ago in Joylin city, there lived an overbearing and tyrannical Mayor, Mr. Hooseglow. Mr. Hooseglow had a hooked nose and was a hubris-natured fellow who sat upon his huge hop pillows and hobbled away on his long hookah pipe.

Now Mr. Hooseglow, his heckled back hucksters, and his swivel-eyed hoodlums looted, swindled, and swooped in a swoosh the hard-earned dough of the poor little folks in Joylin city. They hoodwinked all by swishing their swizzle sticks and making them all in a tizzy state.

The poor folks of Joylin city huggered and muggered about Mr. Hooseglow and his hooligan’s haughty naughty and nasty little ways, but could do nothing about it.

Then one day in this great hubbub came a joyous moment as Pochspiel, the Joker Poker was on his way to Joylin city. Pochspiel, the joker poker was tall in stature and slim as a reed. He wore woolen hug me tights with a hood and carried a huge rucksack on his shoulders with hearts painted all over. He played enchanting tricks with his pack of cards, antics on his hula hoop as well as skipping rope, and played funny tunes on different musical instruments like the banjo, violin, and guitar. He opened a hoop-la stall in Joylin city and gave away puppet dolls to one and all.

All the passersby were filled with awe and wonder. The children too were delighted by his hearty ways and sometimes played hooky just to watch and admire Pochspiel, the joker poker. Pochspiel the joker poker restored joy and happiness in Joylin city.

Mr. Hooseglow, however, had a heart of stone. Alas! He was not a very enlightened man and found it very hard indeed to partake in the joyous events. He could not bear to see the folks of Joylin city be merry again. So Mr. Hooseglow wanted to put an end to Pochspiel and his funny tricks by hook or by crook. He ordered his hooligans to put dear Pochspiel, the joker poker into prison.

As they handcuffed Pochspiel, the joker poker, he hoofed upon his two little feet and rhymed a funny little song,

I am Pochspiel, the joker poker,

With a huge polka-nosed face,

And shall I play funny little tricks

Tiddledydoo! Tiddlywinks!

As I throw my dice up in the air,

And do the Jokey Pokey,

To make the Hoity Toity

Mr. Hooseglow and his hooligans

HOO! HAA!

HOO! HAA!

As they hokey pokey me, behind bars

And cause misery to the HOI POLLOI’

The merry folks of Joylin city,

So shall I cause a great HULABALOO!

And hoist Joylin’s flag

Up in the air,

While hooked nose Mr. Hooseglow

His huckled-backed hucksters,

And swivel-eyed hoodlums

Hoist with their own petards

In the end!

HO! HO!

HO! HO!

Meanwhile, his hoodlums told Mr. Hooseglow of Pochspiel, the joker poker’s threat, but Mr. Hooseglow did not believe in his threats and said, “It’s all hooey and humbug!” And so his hoodlums nodded their heads in approval saying: “Yeh! It’s all hogwash indeed!”

No sooner did they utter these words, than did Pochspiel, the joker poker’s spell took place. Mr. Hooseglow and his swivel-eyed hoodlums and huckle-backed hucksters began to hobble de’ hoy in a most awkward fashion. Hooked-nosed Mr. Hooseglow began to sing while his hooligans started to dance to his tune. It was the funniest sight to see. All the folks in Joylin city broke into uncontrollable laughter and could not believe their eyes. And then the folks of Joylin city created a great hue and cry and demanded that Mr. Hooseglow set Pochspiel, the joker poker free.

Mr. Hooseglow begged Pochspiel to break the spell he cast on them. Pochspiel told them that the spell could not be broken unless and until they promised never again to harass the folks of Joylin city.

Not only did Mr. Hooseglow, his huckled-back hucksters and swivel-eyed hoodlums agree but also felt great remorse for the wicked deeds they had done to the merry folks of Joylin city.

Then Pochspiel, the joker poker had to leave his jolly friends of Joylin city though they wished him to stay on. He told them that he had to go to other cities to make the sad folks happy again. As he went on his way, his merry mates waved him a tearful goodbye, and then Pochspiel, the joker poker did the most marvellous trick, he took off his hood and pulled out red hot poker flowers of scarlet and yellow, and happy was the end.