TALE OF THE BOY HARPER

during

 the bleak, cool dusk,

in the murky depths of

the most virile quarter

of the cobbled latin slum

meekly lay alone,

a petrified & distraught,

young boy harper,

 

 with

 no other option but

to abruptly scarper,

following a fractious

encounter with the

stern organ grinder,

 

 his

 sole keeper & master,

notorious, not only for his,

unrepentantly ferocious

temper, yet also as a

devious, vile exploitative,

child trafficker,

 

 this

  life changing incident,

was to occur after,

young boy harper,

had steamed with

irrepressible laughter,

ya ha ra ha ha!

witnessing his most

humiliated, master

 

 fall

 and split open, his finest

flannel trousers, while

dancing the tarantella,

and with no time to say,

 

 "farewell"

  to the ice-cream

seller, a sly, cautious

yet prim, amiable fella,

nor to the large lady

fortune teller, with her

loyal yet mischievous

prized parakeet,

 

 who

 would give him plums

and bread with cheese,

ensuring he was  

groomed and clean,

 

 but

  alas, he defencelessly,

fled, finally finding

temporary shelter, in

an isolated area, it

 

 being

 a draughty disused

old wine cellar, with a

discreet sandstone

exterior, while his

 

 now

  former master, with

no concerns, what so

ever, other than

his very own personal

 

 tender,

  cruelly dismissed

young boy harper,

as a mere burden &

an ungrateful betrayer

who had duly left

 

 forever

Author's Note

responses would be most welcome

Reviews

[Paul Seaman]

oh no!!! it too long for my attention span !! A.D.D. attacks again. I will read it again when I have more time. I need to remember to breath when I read, ' cause a long piece almost causes me asphyxisation (sp?) OK fine, Ill try reading it again..

OK, so boy Harper escaped, right? for all my multiple direction in my poetry, I am kind of a literalist when it comes to understanding others... So he escaped, is that correct? I must sound dumb..

[SHEEMA HUQ]

thanks anyway Paul for dropping by, for most this is not an expecially long composition yet I certainly relate to what you are saying, I actually considered this one to be rather elaborate aswell! I do prefer you upload shorter pieces but alas this is not always possible

[Paul Seaman]

I hope it is okay to say what I think. I do think you are really good at this and would like to help... I also like to make fun of myself from time to time..

[icelandicblue]

Your images have many layers and textures. I really enjoyed the enjambents. I thought that they were expertly placed and made the story move at a frenetic pace which was quite fitting. You use alliteration well and those hard letters that you place inside words add to the hard and scrabble story that you tell. This is truly and original piece and your story's twists and turns mirrored the dark alleys of the story line. I like your style, you have a unique voice.

[SHEEMA HUQ]

Whoah! I am absolutely thrilled by my fellow poets' responses to this poem, and genuinely I am honored to have received your dedicated review, thanks v much indeed

[Leslie Philibert]

A great rhyme scheme, clever and written with care. A lovely poem, the subject original and well looked at.

[SHEEMA HUQ]

thanks for your comments, I kind of felt that this wasn't expecially artistically written, which dissapointed me somewhat, though the feedback thus far, has been very positive

[patricia]

an all too true story of the fate of the innocent whatever the century this is fixed.
painful to read. well described. the injustice at the end of how the victim is made to look like the ungrateful one did the trick to make me angry. Well penned.

[SHEEMA HUQ]

thanks for your comment Trish, I'm interested in the fact that this poem moved you andI am touched that you felt the emotions that you did

[Tai Ryens]

Intelligent indeed! My, I would suppose this so-called child trafficker would be age, slowly approaching to poach a new victim. Perhaps emotions? I haven't a clue what you intend it to be, but I have my own interpretations at my disposal, and they entice me so. Whatever was in your head, it must've been alluring. Well done.

[SHEEMA HUQ]

very good of you to comment, thanks

[John Alexander McFadyen]

A very intellegent and yet whimsical piece with a feel of the Islamic Golden Age

[SHEEMA HUQ]

thanks for stopping by to review John, the setting is London's Italian quater, Little Italy, during the late 19th Century

[Marie]

This is an interesting story, and I relly like the unusual rhyme scheme.

[SHEEMA HUQ]

thanks Marie

[michael.c.m]

What an elegantly-crafted story. Makes me wish it were miles long and I could really get lost in its twists and turns. Really excellent, Sheema.

[SHEEMA HUQ]

Dear Michael, I would have been satisfied with a, 'quite good' from you, thanks so much

[SHEEMA HUQ]

really it is an absolute honour to have received such a complement from you Michael, I am flattered

[michael.c.m]

You have a story; you have many stories, and you tell them well. Only a poet can express our lives such as this.

[lee von cleef]

A wheel written rhythmic thought provoker!

[SHEEMA HUQ]

thank you for reviewing

[Introspective Mind]

Wonderful....interpreting form of liberation within confines of social relationships and exploitation...really adorable composition !!

[SHEEMA HUQ]

thanks kindly for this glorious comment, much appreciated