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Gerald Finlay

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Member Since: Nov, 2012

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Penance.
by Gerald Finlay → (All Poetry by Gerald Finlay)
   Rated "G" by the Author.
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I was inspired to write this poem after a terrible event. It appears in:-
"Observations in C Major"





"Has anyone heard people calling”
The man in the black cape said—
“Has anyone seen people passing”
As the hood blew back from his head.

He was tired and weary, chilled to the bone,
Torment had long since passed him by--
He wanted the chance for redemption,
As he once more called out with a sigh.

His mind went back many years before,
As he galloped this road to his love.
He knew what a-waited at the castle,
Her promise had heated his blood.

He remembered the Hag by the side of the cart
Her scream for help as he sped by;
The young girl pinned ‘neath the wheel,
But more important things were nigh!

He remembered the chamber in the castle
As they lay side by side on the bed,
He knew he had been to heaven;
The delight that was spinning his head.

Then the warmth disappeared just as fast as it came;
A cold dagger was thrust in his heart;
He leapt off the bed - he’d remembered
The hag, and the girl ‘neath the cart.


He sped down the road even faster this time,
His priority he knew had been wrong
He knew that he should have stopped--to help,
“God--Why is it taking so long?”

At last the cart came into view, and
He leaped from his horse with a thud,
Calling out loud to the hag and the girl;
Both now dead, ‘neath the wheel, in the mud.


His penance then was to stand by this road
His memories ripping his heart;
To look for the hag, the cart, and the girl—
To try to get back to the start.

“Has anyone heard people calling”
The man in the black cape said.
“Has anyone seen a cart and a girl”
As the hood blew back from his head.





    

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 Reviews of "Penance."
Reviewed by Andy Turner
Reviewed on November 18, 2012
Welcome to AD, Gerald.
Indeed, as Ron says, this could be a song.
I found myself reading this to its beat/rhythm.
A chilling account of the story, has the bare bones of a novel, too.

Indeed, do add you article.

Reviewed by Ronald Hull
Reviewed on November 18, 2012
It could be a song. The lesson is quite well expressed. It seems to me that when the hood blew back, he was shot with a firing squad?

Ron


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