The Choice

The house had stood in the forest since

The passing of George the Third,

Ivy clung to the western wall,

The pillars were cracked and scarred,

The windows were bricked and boarded up

From the days of the window tax,

And the name FitzAdam was burnt in sin

In its myriad faults and cracks.

 

The oaks threw shadows in early morn,

The elms threw shadows at noon,

There wasn’t a single sunny wall

To be found ‘til the month of June,

And deep inside in the gloomy halls

Sat the last of the family tree,

Two aging spinsters, Jan and Jane,

And a dead man, that made three!

 

For Henry sat as he’d always sat

Since the day that he’d come to call,

To ask for the hand of Jan or Jane,

And arrange a Wedding Ball,

It was fifty years ago today

That he’d kept them in suspense,

For neither knew what their suitor knew

And the atmosphere was tense!

 

It was just a game to him, they thought,

He was going to have his fun,

He sat at the head of the table, and

He watched their features run,

The anxious looks of the elder girl,

The pleading lips of Jane,

He sat for an hour between them there

And refused to name a name!

 

The fire that glowed in the hearth went out,

Jane left to fetch some coal,

While Jan reached out for a sign from him

And felt that his hand was cold;

His eyes were blank as a morning mist,

His jaw had dropped to his chest,

‘What have you done - was I the one?’

Jane cried, in her distress!

 

But Henry, he was good and dead,

He’d reached his earthly span,

His heart had not proved big enough

To choose between Jane and Jan,

And so he sits with a secret smile

As his flesh returns to sand,

While Jan and Jane, they still complain

As they struggle to hold his hand!

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Pratik]

This is like music... i am almost humming to myself as i read through the lines... its perfect!

[Audrey Owens]

A man with a heart so full of love to share that he couldn't give it all to one alone, so he chose to die loving both. And the two women, both greedy for that love, neither thinking to accept the possible enormity within one man's heart. of What a wonderful poem, with an even better story underneath.

[Harmony Babin]

Wow, thats crazy, lolz, but it was awesome (: Very well written

[poeticpiers]

The craft of a masterbard. I congratulate you sir
perhaps polygamy would have solved the dilemma

[Raven Starhawk]

So many words sweeten your craft here. They blend together to create such a wonderful, vivid tale that flows so fluently.

[Stacey Watts]

Very beautifully written story. This was truly a lovely masterpiece. I loved the ending. Those poor girls will never know will they?

[Twinkle]

Very good vocabulary and style. The structure makes sense. I'm sure it must have taken a lot of thought, experience, and talent to put something like this together.

[Katrina Mckeown]

enjoyable, fun well penned read. thank-you for sharing your sence of humor ))

[Penlady]

Came back to check this again. Your sense of the humor that is so tightly bound to the tragedy makes the poem a delight. It covers such a span especially for the dear ladies in waiting but is such a quick paced melody. delightful read and so visionary. The shadowed walls held a rather chilled experience for all involved. Thanks for the experience.

[EmpressPoetess]

How enchanting! The whole story is so vivid, reads like a lyrical song and flows just as smooth. You are quite the-story teller! I ending is filled with anguish and intensity. They'll never know which one he favored. A great read!