Lydia Stoke

Lydia Stoke, her hip having broke,

Reflects on the days of her prime.

She sits in a sling in the hospital wing,

And mourns the tick-tocking of time.

 

She’s a saint and a sage, who surpasses her age,

An encyclopedia of lore:

Whatever you ask, she shall rise to the task,

And state things unstated before.

 

Ask Lydia why snowflakes fall from the sky,

Or ask what are libraries for,

She shall pause with a sigh as she forms her reply,

Then say it leads back to a war.

 

Ask Lydia of life, she shall tell you of strife,

Ask of love, she shall tell you of hate.

Ask of shadow or light, ask of wrong or of right,

She shall straight spin a yarn to relate.

 

And she tells every part of these tales with such art,

As though they’re tattooed on her skin:

From her white-lilied nose to her red-poppied toes

And a dove in the ferns down her shin.

 

Lydia Stoke, amidst wisps of smoke,

Reflects on the ashes of time.

She sits in her sling in the hospital wing

As the morning bells solemnly chime.

-EDP

Reviews

[Ana Papaya]

this was wonderful. wonderfully written and spot on with the flow
great little tale about lydia stoke :)

[emipoemi]

Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it.

[Ana Papaya]

you're welcome :)

[CM-Stars]

I love this Lydia Stoke. What a delight! Beautiful poem and the rhythm of it, Wow!

I couldnt help but think of Maui from Moana in the second to last stanza. Haha

[emipoemi]

lol indeed! It's interesting how others interpret certain lines and images. The intentional reference is actually not Maui, for what it's worth (though I could see where your brain was going on that one), but it's something probably more obscure to you (look up "Lydia the Tattooed Lady" by the Marx Brothers, and you'll get it). Thanks for the review! I'm so glad you enjoyed it.

[CM-Stars]

I will certainly look it up. Thanks for information. ☺️

[Blue]

Back at it again with your excellence! Have your works been published? If not, they should be. They deserve to be read by the masses.

[emipoemi]

You're one of many, Arzel, to be screaming for me to be in print. I'm known right now as a People's Poet, for the public love me, but the publishers don't want me. It's sad but true. I'm still waiting for my big break.

[Blue]

I'm rooting for you! Published or not, you'll definitely give me an autograph, right? #DoNotDisappointAFan LOL

[emipoemi]

Of course. I'm not one to disappoint a fan. lol

[barleygirl]

Brilliant & playful, using top-notch rhyme & rhythm (which I very much admire, being a rhyme-aholic myself!) I love the whimsy in the strong details you use to describe this person. Originality is the best part of good writing such as yours (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Avia]

Beautiful :) I enjoy reading your ryhming stories they flow so beautifully. Lydia Stoke seems like a gem. Wonderful piece, I'm glad I read it.

[emipoemi]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.

[PegMan]

Thanks for this verse about Lydia Stoke...such a pleasure to read the images you crafted and shared with us.

[emipoemi]

Thanks for reading. Glad you enjoyed it.

[Avia]

My pleasure :)

[Zoya]

Wow, that was a perfectly rhymed out narrative poem! Quite a lass she is. A wonderful, enjoyable read. Very well written!

[emipoemi]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.

[Zoya]

Very welcome :)

[H L Rose]

You’ve depicted a wonderful character! You’ve made me want to meet Lydia Stoke, have a cup of tea with her, hear her stories and tales, and hear her answers to every question under the sun.
You have also described the sad reality that Lydia Stoke probably exists and she probably lives right next door, or in the hospital up the street, not agile enough to keep up with the younger people around her. I just haven’t taken the time to meet her.
Beautiful story

[emipoemi]

I love this comment so much, I'm blushing!! Thank you so much. I'm glad that you enjoyed her company that much, and that she stood out that much for you. She was so much fun to write.

[H L Rose]

Haha I’m glad, she’s a great character!