Obsession

I’d seen the widow walk back and forth

The length of the village street,

Her veil so black and her dress so long

You’d see neither face nor feet,

She never would speak to anyone

But would simply seem to glide

Within the folds of that mourning dress

Like a slowly ebbing tide.

At first she’d walk at the early dawn

But then she’d be gone by noon,

The light of day would spirit away

Her wandering sense of gloom,

She’d not be seen till the sun went down

When you’d hear the swish of lace,

Catching along the sea wall stone

And whipping around her face.

She never would miss the evening tide

That would bring the fleet back in,

Check every boat that was still afloat

If its catch was full, or thin,

Her only love had gone out one day

With his sails set high to roam,

His boat had floated out in the bay

But he had not come home.

It took a week for the widows weeds

To start to march on the shore,

And no-one dared to look in her face

So deep was the grief she wore,

‘I never knew pain like this exists,’

She’d cry, when she was alone,

But over the next few painful weeks

She knew that he’d not be home.

Then she slowly tore off the widow’s veil,

She gave up the mourning dress,

I watched her enter the world again

Just as beautiful, no less.

It took me months but I won her round,

I’d kept my scheme afloat,

By hiding away the tools I’d used

To sink her husband’s boat.

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Edis Radoncic]

I really liked the twist at the ending! Great job. And if I can make one suggestion i am not an expert but I think you should put quotations in the title of your poem since it is lengthy. I heard it is a rule in poetry when you write a long poem it is required to put it. I am sure you already knew but since this is a website it is much more candid haha.

[A Soap Mess Stories]

You are a master of twists...well written story...

[Valkyrie Warrior]

OMG!!! The twist at the end left me speechless!!! So brilliant!!!! You are certainly one of the best poets I have ever had the pleasure of reading!! I applaud you!!

[Frozen Eyes]

Wow the ending was totally unexpected, and the obsession rendered well :)

[Lady Lola]

Wow, I didn't see that twist coming. A very clever poem; focusing the reader's attention on the widow and away from the narrator. Very well done, David.

[andrew mitchell]

What a devilish scheming write lol I liked it!

[Jordan]

Wow, what a twist. Instant classic! Is this currently, or will this be, in one of your books?

[ANTO]

I really don't know what to say - that narrator has a touch of the Dick Dastardleys about him. I thiught him but an innocent bystander until you made him twirl that long thin greased moustache DLP in the final lines.
Excellent reveal and wonderfully rich trademark DLP-imagery.

[Avinash]

Quite a successful evil plan. By shifting the narration it kept the suspense alive till the last line. This time you have outdone yourself.

[1VJ]

Oh Blimey, I wasn't expecting that ending! Loved the surprise twist, you've painted quite a devious picture.