In the Breeze

They took papa and tied cord around his neck

  

My daddy is not a fruit at all

And yet he hangs from the trees

Won’t respond to Mama’s crying call

And sways lightly in the summer breeze

 

He went away to the other land

Where there are no shadows or no dark

And it’s there that they tied his hands

Dragged him to the woodland park

 

They strung him up with thick cord rope

While everyone gathered round to gaze

Mama wept, blue eyes devoid of hope

The scene lit up  by burning blaze

 

A cloud sailed across the moon

My daddy’s eyes became all soft

And on that scorching night in mid- June

A burning cross was held aloft

 

The children ran in circles, sang

‘Hing Hang Hung,

‘Hung hing hang

See what the hangman done’

 

They had skin the colour of untainted snow

Just like Mama; Papa was as dark as night

Mine was light brown, cappuccino,

Just light enough to be alright

 

The pale ghost men laughed and poured

Tall cool glasses of fine white wine

And while Mama whispered to the lord

I noticed how white the moon seemed to shine

 

No, my daddy is not a fruit at all

And yet so often the hangman comes and goes

He’ll make an orchard in time for fall

Fruit a-swinging as the winter wind blows. 

Reviews

[Hannah!]

This gave me shivers. You did an amazing job writing this from a child's perspective--everything from the vocabulary you used to the rhyme scheme added to that effect--and I think that's what makes this poem so powerful. That, and the fact that somehow, in spite of the ugliness of the subject matter, your imagery made this poem disturbingly beautiful. You really did do a good job with this. I'm blown away.

[Berserker[Diktator Von ..]

Wow! This was an awesome read. i am glad that you addressed these issues, great job!

[Mistral Bilgera]

The most amazing dark poetry I've read to date! the horrifying scenes perfectly blended with the innocence of a child's retelling of it. from the first line up to last, i am certainly hooked with the vividness and such tragic power! i love it! :)

[Liam]

Damn! This made me smile at first, then my eyes widened. It captures the issue "awesomely" and I think you should enter it in some competitions. It's that good, well done, though may I ask what Night Of The
Hunter is about (besides the obvious)?