Goblin Dell

He spoke of the stream that flowed uphill

In a grotto, long forgot,

Then said the stream would be flowing still,

And I could believe, or not.

I thought he was strange, with a twisted mind

For the concept was insane,

He said that he came from another time

In a land of eternal rain.

 

I’d met him at Janet’s party where

He drifted from room to room,

Where everyone else was hearty but

He gave off an air of gloom.

I noticed one of his eyes was blue

The other was green, I’d say,

Whenever he stared they both were red

And his face became slate grey.

 

I’ll never know why he spoke to me

I hadn’t met him before,

He had this prominent artery

That ran the length of his jaw,

His voice was flat and unmusical

Though it said the strangest things,

The bones of knuckles were beautiful

He said, when covered in rings.

 

I followed him to the verandah where

I found him gazing at stars,

He said they seemed to be back to front

I said, ‘Well at least, they’re ours.’

‘The grass I knew was a deeper blue,’

He said, ‘and the sky was green,’

I said, ‘You must be from out of town,

We would think that was obscene.’

 

He said ‘You’re not very friendly,’ when

I thought we were doing fine,

He asked me to show him the number six

But I showed him the number nine.

The bus would take him to Goblin Dell

By the longest way around,

I said to myself, it’s just as well

He’ll end in the Lost and Found.

 

I still regret that I didn’t go

To the grotto, long forgot,

He said he was willing to take me there

Whether I would, or not,

I’d like to have seen the fabled stream

That he said had flowed uphill,

And where it led to the source of dream

Where the rain is raining still.

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[ANTO]

Excellent clue in the back to front stars David. A real teaser. One of those people with the 'far away look' in their eyes.This is a Darby O'Gill type character who knows more of other realms than we can even imagine (yes even you too !! lol) - he may be ridiculed on our side of the stars but he is probably regaled on his side.
Class poem DLP :D

[TPK Stories]

Another story well told as always...

[andrew mitchell]

Another great story yarn David well done

[Calamityofgin]

I followed him to the verandah where
I found him gazing at stars,
He said they seemed to be back to front
I said, ‘Well at least, they’re ours.’

I love this bit, so romantic, and this was David Darlin, a romantic piece... This had, and I don't believe you will take any offence, homoerotic undertones that were fascinating to me. The narrator was intrigued until the comments by the stranger about his personality, things were going well until then durn it, A very Louis Carroll type character this grey man..the red eyes in focus, cool touch..the "my hands are beautiful with rings" the vein...durn it..I wanted to know...so did the narrator I suspect, more than he'd like to admit. But that 6, 9/bus trick, might have been a decision that reversed a disastrous fate lol.

Great tale, your most charming, and my favorite character of yours certainly. I wrote one, their Season on Fire I wish you would read if you ever get the time love.

Enjoy Darlin...
Jennifer

[R Smith]

I love this one David, great character you created here, bring him back again his weird philosophy and tales of fables are a treat that you so effortlessly create, if he's in the lost and found then go and dig him out I for one would like to hear more :)

[ASPAR (A Sol Poet Arnay..]

An interesting reading, keep up the great work :)

[surfingdragoncat]

great rhythm. i would have been a little weary, i guess it depends on how many drinks i had at janet's party whether i would have gone or not. but i don't know if i would have been too fond of the red eyes and grey face, more or a pink cheek blue eye kind of lad... and My stream flows downhill. Great poem, i want more of it. will read more of your poems.

[Valentine]

Sounds more like a children's fairy tale, slightly fable, a bit to make them wonder, also a bit to make then look under their beds. Valentine