I often wondered why a peeping man be called
Only by the name, Tom, never Dick nor Harry
Delving high and low in the annals ages old
I came upon a lady and heard her striking story.

It spoke of Earl Leofric, who was 'grim' and cold
And wife, Godiva, in the county of Coventry
She galloped across the town, intrepid and bold
Nude on her horse, with not a speck of worry.

Lady Godiva was now a compassionate soul
whose heart was always with the piteous poor
When Leofric,on his peasants,slapped duties most foul
She knew the burden would kill her people for sure.

Behold,my Lord, the peasants at your feet
From dawn to dusk they toil in your field
In misery they try hard to make dreary ends meet
For the sake of God, hear their pleas and yield.

Obstinate Earl was deaf to many an appeal
"Plague me not, my wife,or I'll show you the door.
Taxes they must pay, my laws I won't repeal
But Godiva,persistent,nagged and dogged the Earl.

The Earl was so irate,he threw her a challenge tough,
That a lady, he was sure, could never ever take up.
"Ride across the town stark naked and sure enough
Taxes due to me, I promise to give up"

"No one shall see me riding, be they young or old
Doors and windows shut each soul shall stay indoors"
She ruled, stunning the Earl, and braved the biting cold
Such a daring deed no knight had known before

Each and every one stayed within his home
As she rode unclothed steadfast to the core
But for a slithery scum ,the tricky tailor Tom
Who peeped through a hole he slyly bored on his door

The traitor ,it was said, in no time lost his sight
"Peeping Tom" then came to be the tailors name
A title down the ages for those who got this blight
Of peeping on others and earning dubious fame



The End.