The Bel Esprit

The travelling salesman...Beware gullible people for happiness can't be bought with money.

The Bel Esprit by Sami Khalil

“Everything tastes better with hope. Everything tastes

bitter with hopelessness. Never be a glower but a doer.”

That was the words of his dad before perishing.

He dreamed life in perfect symmetry, sold it as such.

A very astute travelling salesman, with refined character,

was on a quest to sell delicate happiness and fleeting

hopes through shoes and other wares.

In musky scented markets, he would stand on a platform,

people gathered all around, in multitudes after another,

buying the claimant's products with delight and

purchasing power at hand. Then they will drift off happy

with their treasured possessions.

Shoes that can bring health and stamina to their wearers;

soldiers’ belts that can bring courage and valor in any

battle or life’s situation; rings that can save many from

bachelors’ lifestyles and finally bras and panties that can

bring luck to young and old ladies to keep them fertile if

needed.

Euphoric and encouraged, jubilant folks were buying that

like hotcakes, with good results, to their astonishment.

His reputation extended far and wide for he painted a

beautiful picture in their minds, spurring them to buy it.

It was a mystery to unfold if lightly spun in good fables.

He went on to become extremely wealthy, buying a

mansion, marrying and fathering two children.

Unfortunately, death came not in hesitation, for his wife

died suddenly of complications of a third child. He was

utterly distraught, falling deep in depression’s rifts,

looming him softly.

He stopped the show and withdrew to entwined custody

of limpid sadness. He kept thinking and thinking about

her.

A winsome wife, the love of his life, silky draped hair

with a child-like charm, surviving only in love dialects

and paragons of grace, leaving admirers’ in fitful night

sleep, dreaming about her luxuriously.

He felt soulless countless times, kindled by the gushing

about of her memories.

He breathed in solitude, waking up in an institute ranging

in madness and roaring with dissent, while sirens are

going off in the distance.

A nurse approached him asking: “Aren’t you the famous

travelling salesman, whose reputation exceed him far

and wide, selling people false hopes and magic wares?

My parents still own your products for they felt

cheated.”

Coyly, withholding not the truth, he agreed, mumbling

quietly, afraid he will annoy her, then she will give him

more hated drugs.

She said:” Well, you should practice what you preach.

Drink your own medicine now!”    

Reviews

[Lydia Shutter]

Salesmen can tell you what you need and then let you have it! :) There are those who want to be sold the magic wares...they want to believe what the salesman has to offer. A beautiful picture can not be painted if the canvas is not accessible. Good story, Sami....and I liked the artwork too. Lydi*

[Sami Khalil]

Wow! So true and well said dear poet and friend. I'm sold on that. Thank you so much for all.

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Sami... a picture is worth a thousand words... Your story is worth a thousand pictures. Traveling salesmen were needed in their day... word of mouth remedies for ailments. Now we have TV enticements. I prefer the traveling salesmen. truly, Pat

[Sami Khalil]

Hahaha...So true and well worth the humor. Thank you so much Patricia Wedel for this marvelous review and kind words.

[Linda alexander]

Great writing with morale, in general wrongly earned money or fame is way different than earned in the opposite way, and there may be many facts leading towards it too.

[Sami Khalil]

Wow! Another great way of interpreting this write. I do agree with you. Nothing wrong with fame and fortune if earned with honors and dignity and not stepping on others to get them. If we can lift up others on the journey to get them, that is honorable. Thank you so much for the review and all.

[peter Duggan]

Great words from a master story teller you are Sami. Everything you write is so worth reading. People seek happiness in the wrong places and the salesman are there sell them this happiness. What most people do not realize is that the joy that we all need is within each of us to be received. I threw away all desires many years ago and discovered that all beauty is in simplicity. I really did enjoy your read, my friend...Peter

[Sami Khalil]

" People seek happiness in the wrong places and the salesman are there sell them this happiness. What most people do not realize is that the joy that we all need is within each of us to be received. I threw away all desires many years ago and discovered that all beauty is in simplicity."
People need to read your words of wisdom and enlightenment. So true and well said. I can't thank you enough sir Peter for all you say and do.

[Neville]

What a tale you sure can tell our Sami....this one gripped me from the off and held my attention throughout.... at times I chuckled so loud my poor pup thought I must have gone crazy..... you have a great imagination and flair for the written word and apply it accordingly and with such skill, I am truly envious of your pen.... Take Care & All Good Things, Neville

[Sami Khalil]

Wow! Blessed you my friend and fellow master poet and traveler. I'm so glad you like and enjoy my work as I do yours. All good things and all good things come to those who wait. Smile! Your check is in the mail....Just kidding.

[Neville]

ha... my pleasure and always shall be ... All Good Things back at ya..... Neville

[Sami Khalil]

AGT.............

[Coyote Poetry]

I enjoyed the story and I believe the wisdom shared in the poetry is true. Karma is a bear. It will catch-up with you sooner or later. Thank you Sami for sharing the outstanding story.
Coyote

[Sami Khalil]

So true and well said, Coyote. I do believe so. Thank you kind sir for taking the time and effort to share.

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome my friend.

[Sami Khalil]

:::::))))))))

[barleygirl]

I’d forgotten all about the old “travelling salesman” idea . . . my dad did this a little & his stories about such encounters didn’t give me a good impression of this line of work! Also, there were the “travelling salesman” jokes, so prevalent & tending to involve banging the farmer’s daughter . . . another nest of bad impressions. So it’s hard for me to come to your story with a clear mind! I already thought this guy was a jerk, but now your story shows it in living color! I like this, which is a departure from your usual stories, becuz it’s longer & more developed & yet also more straightforward. You do a great job of combining storytelling with a poetic flair! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Sami Khalil]

Wow! I'm so glad you have some recollection about some stories of the past. I meant of this character as an embodiment of any false person or crook as like a preacher, a doctor, a salesman or even commercials on TV that prey on the innocent and the gullible to take their money and not give them real values or real healing. And you know they are so rampant in our society. Thank you so much dear poet for all. Hope you are feeling better.

[Mrudula Rani]

He was selling the a placeboeffect; the beneficial effect that produces positive results by a product. But the peddler lost love of his life and there is no fixing it with any material things !

[Sami Khalil]

Wow! You are amazing. I love your take on this one. That shows how we all see things in marvelous ways. You are so right. He was selling the placebo and not the real thing. Then he could not handle reality for he gave in to despair. Thank you so much for all.

[Mrudula Rani]

Dear Sami, Your writing are the most wonderful, quite unique, very educational and informative. I love reading your writings. Its a pleasure .

[Sami Khalil]

Much obliged. I do appreciate you.

[Mrudula Rani]

Shokran Jazeelan.

[Sami Khalil]

Laki Al shokr Kaman .

[Mrudula Rani]

Muito obrigada!

[Sami Khalil]

::::::)))))))

[Beccy]

The quest for material riches so often obscures the wealth we already have. The love of someone, the air we breath, each new blessed day; then, but then it becomes too late and the taste, as you say, can be so very bitter.

A tale told here of what is really of importance in our short span.

Beccy.

[Sami Khalil]

Wow! You have shared truth with us. You have summed it up marvelously dear poet. Unfortunately, a lot of people, gullible and innocent, buy into those things. I guess awareness is a good key and using common sense. Thank you so much for all.

[Alfred Kukitz]

the tale envelopes everything known about reality. story telling with a reach for the unexpected sky and suddenly one finds the reach fallen.
par excellence sami!

regards,
al

[Sami Khalil]

Wow! So true and well articulated dear poet and friend. A lot of gullible people out there in all walks of life. BUYERS REMORSE IS RAMPANT. Thank you for all your help with openness and uplifting spirit.