The Flood

They said that the ocean was rising

It would soon overwhelm the land,

While I lived down on the valley floor

Below the sea and the sand,

The only thing that had kept us dry

Was a narrow band of ground,

Between a couple of mountainsides

In a long protective mound.

There were others lived in the valley

It was like an ancient clan,

That had hung on tight to its own birthright

Since before the world began,

While the fathers ruled for the daughters

That they may not look aside,

They could only marry within the clan

If they’d call themselves a bride.

But I was a rank outsider,

I could look, but couldn’t touch,

I tortured myself with Geraldine

Who flaunted herself so much.

Her skin was the texture of silk and cream

And her voice the trill of the thrush,

She’d bare her breasts till she knew I’d seen

Then laugh when she made me blush.

But Geraldine had a father, Roy,

Who was rough, and high in the clan,

He’d single me out and say, ‘You boy,

Your eyes are straying again!

You’d better not look at Geraldine

She’s not intended for you,

I’ll marry her to a real man

That’s what she’d want me to do.’

He’d threaten to beat me with the staff

That kept Geraldine in line,

I thought, she’d never be marked like that

If ever the girl was mine,

But fate lay just round the corner then

With storm clouds tumbling through,

And gale winds whipping the breakers up

In a high tide whirl of a stew.

The mound was breached in the early morn

And carried away like a dam,

Suddenly water was everywhere

I reached for my boots, and ran,

The whole of the ocean seemed to flow

Right down to the valley floor,

With most of the cottages swept away

The clan, it seemed, was no more.

I heard her crying out in the flood

Reached out as she floated by,

And Geraldine had clung onto me,

Her father would drown, and die.

We fought our way to the higher ground

And we saw our homes subside,

Buried forever beneath the flood

But I made the girl my bride.

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[A Soap Mess Stories]

Loved the ending. Nice story.

[Coyote Poetry]

A sad story with a good ending in the poetry. Mother nature can be a bear. When I was station in Georgia. Big hurricane was coming to the Georgia coastline. Us soldiers try to remove the people near the sea. They wouldn't leave. Thank you David for sharing the amazing poetry.
Coyote

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

a delightful little world you have created for us, well done.

[Valentine]

Good story with a happy ending. I love the old sounding tales of yours the best but this is really good. Valentine

[PhoenixDown]

What a fantastic environment you've created. I enjoyed this one very, very much.
This theme with your style and skill make for a great combination. I would love a continuation or continuation of some kind - or even a prequel, etc. Really Great. Wish there was more to read.

PD

[Philip Muls]

It feels like Highlander (I guess Lowlander in this case). You evoke feelings about primitive surroundings with corresponding base rituals of marriage. although I like the ending with the flood, I feel it could be enhanced with something more unexpected, like him saving the father (maybe also that would not unexpected...).

I like it.

[Einstein Noodle]

fine story telling in your delightful style ..nice one says i ..glad he got the girl ...but sad it took a flood to convince the dad ;{
E.

[Gaurav]

The poem touches upon classic tale of love in prehistoric era..i would like it more if furious animosity between father and protagonist could be developed more..its a prose poem, so it would be worth it...overall, however, its a good scenary