The Whispering Wall

The Whispering Wall of Shah La Mere

Had drawn him over the hills,

They said that it only whispered truth

That the listening ear distils,

His lover stood at the further side

And whispered into the wall:

‘I’d like to give you it all,’ she said,

He heard, ‘I wish you were Paul.’

 

They’d fashioned the Dam at Shah La Mere

Where the valley narrowed down,

To catch the tumbling waters there

When the winter floods came round,

The wall of the Dam was curved across

From the cliff on the western side,

And fixed to stone in the eastern zone

On the hill called ‘Devil’s Pride.’

 

A walkway followed the curve across

That was barely three feet wide,

A thousand feet from the valley floor

You could walk it, if you tried,

There wasn’t a safety rail out there

For the faint of heart, or weak,

But those who needed to hear the truth

Would brave it, just to speak.

 

The whispers gathered and echoed there

At the centre of the curve,

And kept on muttering as you passed,

Trapped in the wall’s reverb,

The Whisperers, long gone, were caught

In their whispers of lies and truth,

‘I will be honest and true,’ became,

‘I’m still messed up with Ruth.’

 

Corinne stayed safe on the eastern side

While he walked out to the west,

They’d vowed their love to each other, then

Had thought to put it to test.

He passed the muttering echoes where

So many others had been,

The truth was turning to lies out there

With some of it quite obscene.

 

He stopped and turned on the other side

‘Can you hear me now, Corinne?’

And she had nodded as she had heard

‘Do you fear me, now and then?’

‘I’ve only wanted to be with you,’

Was the whisper she returned,

‘I’m only waiting for someone new,’

He heard, and his ears burned.

 

‘They say it only whispers the truth,’

He muttered, his eyes cast down,

‘I may be soon returning to Ruth,’

Was the whisper that came round.

He dropped her off at her mother’s place

From their trip to the Whispering Wall,

Then drove at speed to spend time with Ruth

While she caught up with Paul.

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Woody]

we don't often say what we mean or mean what we say. an interesting and original way of tackling the subject. I like Marie might not want to go there. but maybe that's what humanity needs today. see through the lies. however, on a humourous level, the distortion of the words leads to funny quid-pro-quos
whatever the original goal, it is always a pleasure to read your poems.

[Marie]

No, Marie would not like to go there. She's got problems enough without having to hear the truth...

[David Lewis Paget]

The truth will make you free, Marie... lol.

[TL Boehm]

another stellar write from you with that revelation of humanity wound around in it.

[Claire in VA]

Oh heck no. Claire needs to stay away from that wall.
Super write as usual, David.

[Baby Ricochet]

The truth doesn't always set you free. Sometimes it just pisses you off

[Tate Morgan]

Sounds like devilish fun to me dave .LOl I am sure i would hear something I wasnt supposed to

[Marie]

I wouldn't dare go to the wall of truth myself...

[KWP]

Ha! So clever! I enjoy very much your works, especially the little twists.

I do wonder if they got together anyway ....

[Lena M. P.]

Sometimes we say what others want to hear instead of the truth. This poem made me chuckle a bit. Every couple before marriage should stand at the whispering wall of truth.