Saturday, April 22, 2023

NaPoWriMo day twentytwo




















he observed the monotony of life;
regretted the necessity of decorum.
 
official documents were sent,
the records full of expenditures.
 
Edward was never permitted
to take any part
in the mediation of a peace—
one of the hardest things to bear.
 
he does not seem to have complained,
loaded with reproaches.
 
*
 
he demanded always that
no mention of her was permitted
in his presence. he had been
accustomed to excess, needed a change
of air, regularly celebrated.
 
Edward conceived a proposal,
the idea warmly and unanimously
slipping through hands accustomed
to the habit of finding excuses.
 
*
 
one thing is certain:
her presence was a costly luxury
when needed
(which happened regularly)
he made pilgrimages to her
rising from the suggestion of trust
between the two
Edward had been inclined
to the idea of power,
the faintest scent of cruelty.
it hardly needs saying, therefore,
that on the occasions of his visits to her
he would fall into the habit of not going.

Friday, April 21, 2023

NaPoWriMo day twentyone




















it is probably incorrect
to say there were stirrings
(continuously).
 
he was a man
with an eloquent tongue,
a system of whispers.
 
he waited for a signal,
known in secret.
 
the signal came
in time,
brought many changes—
 
hard laws imposed
became almost commonplace
(according to authorities).
 
*
 
all the records of the day
suggest stirrings under the surface,
the habit of assembling wrongs.
 
a man of fine and fine courage
could open the prison.
 
this was planned.
 
who refused to accept
laws formed themselves
and lived.
 
ownership increased
by leaps and bounds.
 
circumstance
became most pronounced,
a remedy for evils.
 
*
 
that labouring
lacked organization.
 
circumstances
seem to trace back
to one man
 
he was persuaded to believe,
the word was clear
 
(but that story
does not belong here)
 
death brought many changes
in conditions. so many
fell easily into immoral ways
 
so involved in the commonplace,
a complete ignorance
about everything,
nature a plague.

Thursday, April 20, 2023

NaPoWriMo day twenty




















about shrines:
a very strange
superstition
 
confessors
performing
at all hours
 
devotedly,
but uneasy
 
*
 
that particular day
nothing seemed to have
any beneficial effect
 
to supplement
his recovery
 
Edward loved devotedly
 
*
 
finally
they came to the last
resort
 
supplications
filled the air
at all hours
 
more effect
than effort
 
poor successors

Wednesday, April 19, 2023

NaPoWriMo day nineteen




















The fool, looking about him
in surprise, saw the year end
in defeat and humiliation.
On this occasion,
with very few in attendance,
he would be called destined—
history encountered.
“A guest of gossip”
Resident of the tall cities
of the plains.
 
*
 
Edward saw the year end in a truce—
a great victory. He would, in time,
come to anchor. Awaiting
the arrival of a guest, Edward
enjoyed as much comfort
as could be found.
He liked to live well,
to sit down at tables
groaning with good things,
to sleep in the softest of  beds.
 
*
 
brilliant victory
and destruction.
Edward could not
capture either.
finally, he concluded.
he uttered his first
feeble sounds of life,
would, in time, corrupt
this history. Edward
took a considerable time
awaiting the arrival of wealth,
a high degree of luxury.
Would write later:
among these who abused
strength given them,
this was true:
the wealthy habit
was usually lived above.

Tuesday, April 18, 2023

NaPoWriMo day eighteen




















iniquity was slow
but in time
began to display
stayed to punish
then ravish
the young
who have all
the instincts
of a victim
rumours to draw
the unfortunate
into a trap

Edward had been able to escape
through kindness, the story
kept as a guest.

*

concerned, the cloak of their iniquity
was torn from them. all refused to attend.
the absent formed an alliance.

who decided to strike back boldly.
selecting as victim, Edward, still alive.

Edward was still in captivity
with the use of this rumour.

where he remained.

*

Wrath, in time, was on display;
stayed to allow time to punish
the absent, ravage opposition,
form resistance to the favourite.
There had been strange rumours
circulating. The story
had been able to escape.
Substantial evidence
came to light.
Documents were discovered.
Kept. Remain.