The Red Egg
In her charge given
The bone china lucky egg
Wrapped
in linen
Instructed
to deliver soft knocks
Call
upon the ancient man up
The steep stairs waiting for New Year
And respect
And respect
Beware
the dog barking at the entrance
Lose not
the charge given into her keeping
More
fragile than pearls strung on air
Run between
raindrops holding that precious parcel
Beware
the slip of small feet on sliding pavement
Hear the
dog growl, see the parcel drop,
Shudder
as the china knocks-to-shattered
Shards on
pavement and
Filaments
of coming disaster
Float
before eyes as her
Sticky hope
clings to a single
Vanishing cell of possible reprieve
Nicely done - I am still dging around this wordle, looking for a way in.
ReplyDeleteResponsibility is a tough lesson to learn!
ReplyDeleteGreat power in these words. Enjoyed them.
ReplyDeleteSome great lines and images in this. One of the best:-
ReplyDeleteBeware the slip of small feet on sliding pavement
think you'd have to go a log way to better it.
I could feel myself cringing at the thought of the egg dropping and breaking china!
ReplyDeleteThis is quite a tale, Pearl. Your lines read quick and choppy... several could be fortunes from a cookie. Bad fortune for the courier. Thank you for the characters you bring to our stage. They are rich and varied.
ReplyDeleteYikes! What a horrible thing to happen. Both the one in charge of the egg and the one to whom it was to be delivered must be devastated.
ReplyDeleteI've been as clumsy as this person myself, so I can relate!
ReplyDeleteSeven Whirls with James Joyce
We each must drop a treasure or two before we learn the importance of holding on gently, yet firmly.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.kimnelsonwrites.com/2013/01/17/glow/
I picture a small girl here, so carefully on her mission, then the horror when the worst happens. And fear she will be scolded. The growling dog would intimidate someone much bigger. Poor child!
ReplyDeleteWow... I was so hoping it wouldn't break... but that's the way my wishful thinking intrudes... love the ending
ReplyDeleteFloat before eyes as her
Sticky hope clings to a single
Vanishing cell of possible reprieve
I can feel the anxiety as the egg plummets to the sidewalk. I loved this line:
ReplyDelete"More fragile than pearls strung on air" Truly breathtaking!!!
A good story, building suspense - Oh, No! great ending.
ReplyDeleteOh my, Pearl! I think I actually gasped. :)
ReplyDeletea lovely line this "More fragile than pearls strung on air"
ReplyDeleteOh, my. I felt like I was carrying the egg, too, as I read this poem. Great job on getting the reader involved and I was so dissapointed she didn't make it. So true to life sometimes.
ReplyDeleteExcellent story poem...it builds and builds and comes full circle with hope in the face of shattered portent.
ReplyDeleteSo beautifully told, and the tension as fine as a taut invisible wire - I too love the line, "more fragile than pearls strung on air" among many others
ReplyDeletehttp://thepoet-tree-house.blogspot.ca/2013/01/pearls-candles-and-prayers.html
Such inventiveness! You've turned the prompt into an enthralling story.
ReplyDeletewhat a nightmare todrop such beauty
ReplyDeleteEvocative
ReplyDeleteAw guys - was a little under the weather - feeling a bit better tonight and now seeing all these lovely comments smiling my way to snuggle under the covers. Thank you, thank you, thank you. So appreciate you all stopping by - so delighted you enjoyed :) Thank you!
ReplyDelete