»
Archives
»
Open Poetry #22
»
Beggar's Ballad (Really really long)
| Open Poetry #22 |
|
Beggar's Ballad (Really really long) |
|
|
Pilgrimage Member Elite
since 2001-12-04
Posts 3945Texas, USA |
Beggar’s Ballad The beggar princess plies her trade all up and down the town. She twirls and pirouettes and leaps in tattered velvet gown. Her yellow locks, so long and free, a curly, tangled mess. Her pink cheeks and her red, red lips, her beaded purple dress. Through alleyways and cobbled streets, through noisome dens and sties where highwaymen and dips converge to swap their spoils for lies, she prances light and gracefully, she warbles merry tunes. She twirls and pirouettes and leaps beneath the orange moon. She begs with dainty dimpled smile and outstretched palm to fill. “Oh, sir, a shilling, please, to buy a dram to warm the chill?” They laugh and wink and shake their heads, but always come across. She blesses them with flirting glance, then gives her head a toss. She dances down to Sibyl’s Inn, a vile and reeking stew filled with the dregs of London’s best, and sips a pint or two. She takes a turn with Charley, dear, out on the oaken floor, and lets him kiss her cheek for fun, but laughs when he wants more. A merry beggar’s life has she, no man, no home, no cares. She twirls and pirouettes and leaps to her own trilling airs. A handsome thief with flashing eyes puts out a hand to snatch the beggar girl as she floats by, and offers up his catch-- He bows and kisses her soft palm, and what does he leave there? A shining ruby that he plucked from some great lady’s hair. She shoves it ‘mid the tangled locks and gives her beau a smile worth all the jewels in the land, and laughs with him a while. But then she must go out, she hears sweet money’s siren call. A little bit the worse for drink, she stumbles to the wall. Now beggar girls with jeweled pins tucked in their matted hair are fair game for the night wolves, and there’s plenty of them there. The shadows in the alley move, a strangler’s cord pulled tight. She twirls and pirouettes and leaps- and falls, bereft of light. Nan(Pilgrim variety) |
||
| © Copyright 2002 Nancy Wilcox - All Rights Reserved | |||
Cpat Hair
since 2001-06-05
Posts 11793 |
well told... indeed worth the read! |
||
|
Pilgrimage Member Elite
since 2001-12-04
Posts 3945Texas, USA |
OH, thanks! I was afraid no one could get all the way through it.  Nan(Pilgrim variety) |
||
|
Cpat Hair
since 2001-06-05
Posts 11793 |
it does not take long to read...and the story so well told it floats on the page. I am not a fan of longer poems for the most part unless they do indeed flow well and the story being told is told well.. you accomplished both here... |
||
Mistletoe Angel 
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
 (smiles) There are some things far more delicate than riches in our world, and you speak of the most beautiful of them in your wonderful words! (big hugggsssss) This is a marvelous ballad, sweet friend, I love the pirouette feel of this, we all love you so much! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Nancy, thank you for sharing!  May love and light always shine upon you! Love, Noah Eaton "Underneath your clothes there's an endless story..." |
||
|
the_loner_23 Member Ascendant
since 2002-06-08
Posts 5479Jacksonville, Florida, USA |
Awesome Cold hands means a warm heart |
||
|
NewEnglandlazurlu Member Rara Avis
since 2002-01-04
Posts 7470A Mountain Paradise |
Wonderful and it did not seem that long. Perhaps because it was well written and so good. Hugs, Marti Every now and then take a good look at something not made |
||
|
Pilgrimage Member Elite
since 2001-12-04
Posts 3945Texas, USA |
Dear Noah, loner, and Marti: Thanks! I've been working on it for a couple of weeks. I usually do shorter ones, this one was tough. I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Nan(Pilgrim variety) |
||
|
Kethry Member Rara Avis
since 2000-07-29
Posts 9082Victoria Australia |
Nan, what a story, what a way you have of telling it! It didn't seem long at all. I believe that is mark of a good poet or as Marsha would say "you, my dear are a writer." I loved the way you change the pirouette to a dance of death. Fabulous! Keth Here in the midst of my lonely abyss, a single joy I find...your presence in my mind. Unknown |
||
|
Pilgrimage Member Elite
since 2001-12-04
Posts 3945Texas, USA |
From you, Keth, a teller of tales, this is a compliment indeed. Thank you.Nan(Pilgrim variety) |
||
|
Ceinwyn Member Elite
since 2000-07-09
Posts 2175VA |
I am glad I took the chance to read your lovely story, weaved so very well! Enjoyed muchly!! Kristen If at first you don't succeed destroy all the evidence that you tried. |
||
|
Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
Well done! The reading time danced by quickly, and I enjoyed every line. You should try this 'long' stuff again sometime. |
||
|
Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
What the Cap'n said...a story, well told...thank you! |
||
|
Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Pilgrimage You were able to take me into the story like I was there. Very well done and enjoyed by me. Thank you. |
||
|
Pilgrimage Member Elite
since 2001-12-04
Posts 3945Texas, USA |
Dear Kristen, Midnitesun, Sunshine, and Martie, I want to thank you all for reading all the way through this one. I worked a long time on it, and to hear that people enjoyed it makes it worthwhile. Nan(Pilgrim variety) |
||
|
WhileIWasGone Member
since 2002-07-18
Posts 486 |
Very nice work....enjoyed much. DeaDiAmore |
||
|
|
⇧ top of page ⇧ |
|
| All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format. | ||
