Blessing/Burden

This is based off of the hardship of Castrati singers in the 18th century. Please feel free to contact me if you do not understand the history of Castrati singers.

Mother and Father,
I have done everything that you have expected me to have accomplished by my age
I have survived the infection
that was caused by the bloody knife in your hands
but the infection has left me weak and crippled
I attend a music school with other boys that have their pride
they only see the hat that I wear
I am so small; the hat falls over my
eyes, my eyes
they burn, they burn!
oh, how they burn
with the flame of this
blessed burden you have gifted me with
the others, the others
and my parents do not see
the flames in my eyes
that ignite my voice,
my voice it travelles high, higher, highest
than all of the other boys.

Mother and Father,
I am now rehearsing, rehearsing
the play that you put me in
I pretend, I pretend
is that all that you have ever wanted?
I stand tall on these feeble limbs
as I belt out the notes that don't match my character
I am a knight; a brave, strong knight
I carry this heavy sword at my side;
this weapon that you have given me
it weighs me down
oh, how very heavy it is!
I am waiting for the perfect moment
to lift this sword above my head
or maybe your's
and swing with the little might that I have
I will slice and kill
this blessed burden that you have cursed me with.

Mother and Father,
I carry the gold
Oh, how it shines!
it blinds me, it digusts me
I see your grinning faces reflect off of the coins
as you hold the bloody knife above my heart
I do not need this gold
it is only excess baggage that plagues me as I attempt to die
the gold has only brought me nothing but pain
it reminds me of the burdens that you have blessed me with
so here, Mother and Father
here is what you wanted!
here is the gold that will purchase you
methods to wash my blood off of your greedy fingers
Mother and Father,
I suffer!
Mother and Father,
why have you blessed me with this burden?!
 

Reviews

[Wolfwind Words]

What some parents would do just to make money off of their children back them! Dang! I've read some of the stories about that age in time and the castrati. was a twisted world back then. Perhaps it still is!
Thanks for sharing!

[lori c]

this is so painfully powerful. you have looked into the soul and shared its pain without revealing too many secrets. excellent.

[Nana Carmine]

Wow. This is really great. it's really strong and it captures the pain you are trying to get across. Thank you for sharing.

~Nana Carmine

[J.P. Bristow]

Really interesting write....Farineilli (1994) is one of my favorite movies...have you seen it?...it captures everything you have painted here....great write>

[Shadows of Sight]

Your tale speaks true of the anguish the Castrati must have felt, after being force to take the cut. You have captured it well, while still being vague, on exactly what it was that the bloody knife did to them.
Great Write! :)