The silent song of Chester Gray

Written for Dave Brown. : )

The silent song of Chester Gray 

 

The silent song of Chester Gray, 

a murderous affair 

This quiet soul of little word 

not known of him to share 

This eve upon a moaning moor, 

a pier of rotted wood 

A body lay alone and cold, 

where life it once had stood 

 

The corpse was clothed, though not its own 

a size or two, too small 

And shoeless, showing socks so worn, 

though mud, no sand did call 

A male, of middle, weathered age, 

long years did take their toll 

A day or two or three or more, 

did lay this empty soul 

 

While Chester Gray, his monocle 

upon his eye did rest 

Did query, what’s before us now, 

does lie, this I attest  

The clues, a simple clump of straw, 

a rope of equal length 

A note, in scribbled written verse, 

poetic movement strength 

 

No grave nor stone nor herald gear, 

nor silhouette of grief 

A coin of gold, upon each eye, 

the night’s profound relief 

“It seems this man of pauper means 

did owe a mighty sum 

To one who held his fist indeed, 

a' fueled by demon rum 

 

You’ll note, the straw, this bolt of beige, 

once tended with a knot 

A piece of rope, of cuttered means, 

not something soon forgot” 

And last this verse, poetic bard, 

or something penned of greed 

More so, a riddle, lines of fate 

alas, this he did read 

 

“Not straw, nor rope, nor empty purse, 

lost wages passed as sin 

Shall prove so wicked as the curse, 

this eve to soon begin 

Whence deathly sound of piper’ s roam, 

midst shadows cast o’ long 

Thy fail to pay, shall breathe the end 

and lonely silent song” 

 

Now Chester Gray did ponder of 

 the stanza’d messaged theme 

Through quiet thought and gestures slow, 

his eyes this night did gleam 

"Oh woe is he who fails to heed 

the hand before his heart 

With motions tainted endlessly 

of monies not to part  

 

The straw, it comes a flute to bear 

within a case of wood 

Once fastened with a silken rope, 

before this soul had stood 

Each coin a symbol of the wealth, 

which promises had placed 

 tween loans now strolling in default 

and debts long now erased 

 

The culprit a musician, for the tune 

has since been met 

About the head a beating 

and the clothes of sad regret 

The only thing of fortune   

that the murderer did chose 

The victim he was found to wear, 

the most expensive shoes 

 

This perpetrator, you will find, 

with flute he cannot lose 

Just seek the one, the one alone, 

to wear expensive shoes 

And find as the solution 

to this deadly dark display 

That all must pay the piper 

‘fore the silent song does play" 

 

Author's Note

Chilton Chester Gray is a fictional detective I created and wrote several short murder mystery stories using. Dave Brown and I got into a conversation about murder mysteries one day and I decided to write one using my character. I realize this is quite long and most on here do not read long poems, but if you do, I hope you enjoy it.

Reviews

[Thomas W Case]

Fantastic work. Great story telling.

[Writergurl]

This is an amazing write, really nicely written and thought out.

[poetgurl]

WOW! This is quite a write, excellent write

[Vol]

WW,
Excellent poem and story sir. I am a fan of mysteries, they are almost all I read. Just think how much time I'd save if all were written with such economy of words...
Vol

[Lorry]

Enjoy it I indeed did do sir! ☺
Sometimes a tale takes exactly the length it takes 'tween starting and ending and this was the case here. We now leave feeling like we knew Chester, which is the point of writing of him in the first place.
I'm sure he'd be very proud if this epitaph Will.

[Soren]

Well written Will it has a good flow and meter that carries it along and the wording and imagery help immensely peeking interest as the story flows along. The lines are short and the story itself maintains interest. Also the rhyme scheme itself is appropriate. I found its length no problem at all. Loved it.

[emmajoygreen]

As always, fine meter but - the theme is different from your usual horticultural wonders. If you don't mind me saying so.. think more of Chiltern Chest Gray poems.. perhaps a series would - as we say over here, 'go down a treat', for the detective, mystery and gentle humour involved.

[schlanks]

Well written and gripping. A piece worth its length as I stayed eager to learn more of the mystery throughout.

[John the Baptist]

At times in this one, you almost capture Dave's style. Read a little more Dr. Suess and you'll have it.

[willweb]

Thanks.......