Charleston Farmhouse Door; image courtesy of Tess Kincaid |
This is the keyhole through which he spied,
And saw the prisoner locked inside.
This is the prisoner with nowhere to hide,
Condemned to death because someone lied.
This is the liar who has no shame,
Who put the scapegoat in the frame.
This is the killer who has no name,
Who let the prisoner take the blame.
This is the lawyer who only saw,
A guilty man walk through the door.
This is the judge who set his jaw,
And instructed the jury to follow the law.
This is the witness and false is she,
Who twisted her words and pointed at me.
This is the jailer who turned the key,
Extinguishing hope that I'll ever be free.
©Marilyn Brindley
For some reason I thought of 'The House That Jack Built' when I saw this prompt, so this is my own attempt at a Cumulative Tale. It's a device I've not tried before but it added a dimension of challenge.
Linking to Tess Kincaid's Magpie Tales, where Tess posts an image to get our creative juices flowing.
Wow! Great poetic interpretation of the farmhouse door.
ReplyDeletevery poignant tale...
ReplyDeleteSuperb!
ReplyDeleteI really like this, Nell. Great rhythm.
ReplyDeleteExcellent!
ReplyDeleteI've never been to Charleston Farmhouse and just must go. I know I would find it annoyingly inspiring, annoyingly because our house is not in that style at all but I would want it to be!
ReplyDeleteWow, really liked this. A complete tale, each line building off the line before it. Nicely done.
ReplyDeleteIngenious..I'm swept away by the originality..wow!!
ReplyDeleteThis worked very well. And I like the added twist when we found out the prisoner was you (the narrator). It really does build both story and tension. Really good write!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE it. I didn't think of the "House That Jack Built." I thought of "There was an old lady that swallowed a fly."
ReplyDeleteBrilliant! The idea works so well with the prompt. The rhythm and rhyming couplets carry the tale of woe, on the suspenseful journey you have created here. Bravo, Little Nell. Well done!
ReplyDeleteIt's a human tragedy that people get framed. No good to suffer for something one didn't commit! Great poem Little Nell!
ReplyDeleteHank
Lock them all up and throw away the key, Valjean !
ReplyDeleteGreat job! and true-sadly-
ReplyDeleteYes and it happens with a lot of other people, thats a great shame and human tragedy.
ReplyDeleteAnd you have given a great twist to the prompt. Well written!
Clever, and well done. :)
ReplyDeleteI am not sure my post went through
ReplyDeleteLove your couplets, fantastic work very clever
How very amazing indeed. Your writing has touched my heart and soul, very inspiring Marilyn.
ReplyDeleteOh, this is so intense and powerful. Superbly done. :-)
ReplyDeleteI hope though that things end up better.
~Imelda
Clever stuff Marilyn - how easy it is to frame or be framed...
ReplyDeleteAnna :o]
So very beautiful writing......
ReplyDeleteuniverse will not hand it over to you
You definitely succeeded. Beautifully done.
ReplyDelete=)
A absolute delight to read - which I have numerous times now!
ReplyDeleteA well-done cumulative tale. I have to say, though, that if I were a prisoner, I'd rather be behind a pretty door!
ReplyDelete