In the Breeze

They took papa and tied cord around his neck

  

My daddy is not a fruit at all

And yet he hangs from the trees

Won’t respond to Mama’s crying call

And sways lightly in the summer breeze

 

He went away to the other land

Where there are no shadows or no dark

And it’s there that they tied his hands

Dragged him to the woodland park

 

They strung him up with thick cord rope

While everyone gathered round to gaze

Mama wept, blue eyes devoid of hope

The scene lit up  by burning blaze

 

A cloud sailed across the moon

My daddy’s eyes became all soft

And on that scorching night in mid- June

A burning cross was held aloft

 

The children ran in circles, sang

‘Hing Hang Hung,

‘Hung hing hang

See what the hangman done’

 

They had skin the colour of untainted snow

Just like Mama; Papa was as dark as night

Mine was light brown, cappuccino,

Just light enough to be alright

 

The pale ghost men laughed and poured

Tall cool glasses of fine white wine

And while Mama whispered to the lord

I noticed how white the moon seemed to shine

 

No, my daddy is not a fruit at all

And yet so often the hangman comes and goes

He’ll make an orchard in time for fall

Fruit a-swinging as the winter wind blows. 

Reviews

[Hannah!]

This gave me shivers. You did an amazing job writing this from a child's perspective--everything from the vocabulary you used to the rhyme scheme added to that effect--and I think that's what makes this poem so powerful. That, and the fact that somehow, in spite of the ugliness of the subject matter, your imagery made this poem disturbingly beautiful. You really did do a good job with this. I'm blown away.

[Kaye]

This is an idea most people don't think about in today's world. Your imagery was so brilliant and I loved how you put it in the daughter's point of view. It made it all the more heartbreaking.
Very lovely poem. ^^

[Raja]

I am just overwhelemed by the superior touch that this poem has. Talk about words, meaning, story-like craft, balance of consequences, or the overall impact, everywhere it is superb, just. I am just captivated by this poem.

It is simple and creative, and I think one of your best poems.

Good work Emily.

Thank you.

Raja

[kayama]

Its really amazing how you wrote this, the rhyme scheme is amazing, You even made it flow, the very first two lines "My daddy is not a fruit at all And yet he hangs from the trees"
So powerful. This is a really great writing.

[Rylan Batten]

Very powerful writing. I enjoyed the imagery, and how it worked with taking something horrible and putting it through the filter of an innocent eye. Very talented work here, good job. Keep it up!

--Rylan

[Legion]

Wow. An injustice seen through the eyes of a child. Wonderfully done even though it is a topic of such woe and misery. Hatred is such a strange thing and twice as deadly as its strangeness. A brilliant write. Kudos to you.

[Orlando Murcia]

Great work Emily Wow!! I really enjoyed this piece. And I agree it makes me mad to when people would do such horrible things. GReat Write sweetie!! Orlando M

[SimonitroX]

Hanging someone for no sin just because his skin color or he's a different ethnic is moronic and demonic.

It's not like his/her choice given to be black or something or being gay. Those things do come natural from birth. It's even moronic when people mock albinoes, born crippled or accidental crippled or the different.

Stupid human's mind.

[Gandré]

This a perfect piece of work. Wonderfully woven angst, truth, expectations and all variations of emotional worlds...I think my favorite stanza was the last one .....but all were great - I mean it very very good writing :)

[Omar]

This is so powerful, it gave me goose bumps!
Emily, you shift from genre to genre, style to style, theme to theme with absolute ease! This is the most interesting and impressive thing about you!
The poem realy rang a bell in my head; it's very reminiscent of the novel "To Kill a Mockingbird", though no-one gets hanged or whatever in the story, but the overall theme and possible setting of the poem really match that novel.
Above all I applaud your cause and support you in your battles against all the world's dark sides. Know that I am always there with you, fighting on your side :)

Love,

O

[Staci Brown]

BRAVA! well done!!! this is an outstanding write! the subject matter, the words you chose, imagery, timing.... one of the best i['ve read in a while on the cafe!

Faerie Blessings!

--faerie whisper (breaking the silence...)