The Maligning of the Rat

(The plague and fire of London 1651c an alternative viewpoint)

mistaken you might be for

believing that black death resulted

from infestations of rampant rats

filthy creatures who spread fear

as well as contagion, yet recent

research has provided more facts

as professionals left St Giles in the Fields

and other parts of London in droves

the poor were left to cope on their own

living in slum conditions they became

the first to succumb at speed

to terrors of uncontrolled disease

human fleas and body lice found

on dirty garments, feeding on flesh

it seems were the culprits

hidden from the eye, the reason

so many died, poverty, lack of

clean clothing,hapless hygiene

spreading like wildfire, only to be

finally burned out when the

capital's skyline bled rip roaring red

when huge flames blazed for days

to consume and gut the medieval

city paving way for change

Reviews

[Patricia]

We knew so little then and medical practices were belief driven not so much knowledge driven. We have come so far in the medical field and some may say it has become a religion itself, I wouldn’t but some may. I am so glad I got to be a part of it as a nurse, I saw how faith was still part of the process and how science gave them that. Still so much to learn. Dirty practices back then were to blame and with Covid I see we still haven’t learned our lessons, sad. Great write Chris

[Chris Shaw]

Loved to read your thoughts here. Thanks so much for the read and your lovely review. You are truly appreciated.

Chris

[Lathen Griffiths]

I seem to remember reading an article on this some time ago Chris, I’m fascinated by history and enjoy very much the way that you weave it into your poetry.

Best wishes,

Lathe

[Chris Shaw]

I love history as well Lathe. I wrote this after watching a TV programme. Thanks for all the reviews today. You are appreciated.

Chris

[shadrach hah]

Hi Chris, like so many others, I can't stand rats. Your powerful write did get me to thinking. Like so many, I believed that rats were the cause of the black death, now I have read your wonderful write I will have to change my thinking, or I can do my sit on the fence and say it could have been the conditions, the fleas, the body lice and the rats. Another real and powerful write from your pen. Have a wonderful Sunday. Hugs always....Mike.

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Mike. Watched a TV programme which inspired this writing. Appreciate you stopping by to read. Have a good Sunday.

Chris

[shadrach hah]

You are welcome, Chris. Made me think and I love poetry that does that. Have a wonderful Sunday. Hugs always....Mike.

[Kerra H.]

Ew, rats, I think i will go crawl into a hole, But i believe you are talking about life as it lived maybe, I dunno, who knows how my brain works. Enjoyed the write though.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Kerra. I appreciate you stopping by.

Chris

[JE Falcon]

An interesting subject. Not one I might pick but once I started reading I could not stop. And I do believe that might have been a secondary goal on your agenda. In other words, I liked it despite myself. :)

[Chris Shaw]

Pleased I managed to keep your interest. Your review made me smile. Thank you.

Chris

[Allen Smuckler]

Are you sure you're talking about ancient times, Chris ... hmmm?
Sounds very familiar ... ignorance, hate and stupidity tend to bring out the worst in us..until it festers into the plaque... or pandemic. your choice.
A thought-provoking, cogent, topical write. I enjoyed the lesson, but I still hate rats

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Allen. Pleased this poem got you thinking. I have to confess, I don't like rats either, even if they have been maligned :) I appreciate your thoughts and the review.

Chris

[Beccy]

I am a tad more into maligning modern day rats, who seem to count political expediency as more important than the citizens they purport to care about.

A plague on all their houses, I say... Oh, and let us not forget those nasty little profiteers who ramped up prices of PPE by a factor of 1000% on average worldwide, we really are a caring species are we not. :))

Beccy.

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Beccy. I appreciate you bringing this poem into the current times. I agree with everything you say. Plenty of rats and profiteers around these days :)) Thanks for checking in. Hope you and your son are OK.

Chris
Chris

[Einstein Noodle]

interesting Ms. Christine! very interesting indeed ... can't help but draw parallels with nasty crap Covid .. tho it didn't and hasn't forgotten any gender, race or monetary standing ... it seems still, to hold the upper hand .. no burning this things out ... frankly .. I'm beginning to believe our "experts" continue to grasp straws ... the Black Death was such an imprinted lesson we learned in grade school ... remembering still brings on the terror imparted to me by the history ... timely lesson says i!
E.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Mr E. I watched a TV programme which fascinated me. Yes, it was at the height of covid too. One village in England, completely isolated itself from its neighbours. Because they did that, they saved many lives In neighbouring areas, even though the death toll in their own village was catastrophic. All those years ago and yet such similarity with today. Thank you for checking this one out. Hope all is good with you across the pond.

Chris

[Einstein Noodle]

ohh i'm good Christine .. and luv back at ya! ;) there is plenty around my little Ponderosa that keeps me busy enough to stay out of trouble .. your a corker darlin' :))))))))))) i appreciate you.

[Chris Shaw]

Ha! You know I smiled at being called a corker :)) Have a wonderful day my friend.

[Einstein Noodle]

:)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

[lightsong]

"so many died, poverty, lack of
clean clothing,hapless hygiene"

YES and YES and YES!!!! always dirtiness, ignorance lead to disasters or at least making the fire rage more!

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you lightsong. Seems that we haven't learned much. They even knew about isolation back then. So many parallels with covid. So appreciate you checking in.

Chris

[Seth Cason]

How could I possibly not review a poem whose title makes me jealous that I didn't think of it myself? This is a strong piece, a bleak reminder and a horrifying portent that parallels humankind's current condition in that sometimes, wading into the worst-case scenario or splattering at the rock bottom is the only way positive change can happen. I hope to God that it won't take another medieval incineration to wake up the world before we arrive at that point.

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Seth. Yes, I hope it doesn't take another great fire to extinguish a plague. Hopefully the vaccine will work. Appreciate you checking in. Such an interesting programme to watch which uncannily resembled the start of corona virus and its terrifying rapid spread.

Chris