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Thursday, 22 January 2009

TOP prompt "Ceremonies"

Written for Totally Optional Prompts "Ceremonies"
Welcome to the snow
Slipping sliding such and such
Revolution woes

The crowd gathered in the square
Taste the anticipation

The white stuff still falls
Wetting the curious mob
Merges with their sweat

A boy sells them some stale bread
They wash it down with cheap wine

Then a bugle blows
Soldiers dismount from horses
The prisoner comes

Hail the executioner
Voluminous crescendo

Up goes the sharp blade
Down slicing the mans head off
The jeering mob cheer

The snow mixes with fresh blood
Runs between the cobblestones

Still the crowd want more
Encore encore they cry out
The bayonets are fixed

Angry soldiers face the crowd
Itching to kill the rabble

Blood demands more blood
A dog is dragged to the stage
Someone cuts its throat

The crowd don’t want to go home
Urine permeates the square

The snow turns to rain
The drenched mob are drunk on wine
The wet soldiers curse

The baker runs out of bread
A barrel of cheap wine flows

Vive la republic
Chant the disorganised mob
The soldiers attack

A La Guillotine they cry
Let them eat cake she replies

Blood and puke and puss
A ceremony of sorts
Madness gone insane
220109
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17 comments:

  1. paisley22 January 2009 at 11:19

    sometimes i am left wondering if we are at all far removed from this mentality,, celebrating,, or making a grand occasion out of crime and or punishment.. we might not hold live public executions,, but we inundate ourselves in such as a society thru the entertainment and media choices we make don't we??????

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  2. anthonynorth22 January 2009 at 15:37

    I'm convinced, if the right elements are in place, it would still happen today.

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  3. Tumblewords:22 January 2009 at 19:59

    This ritual lies just beneath the skin, waiting to erupt in physicality. Excellent work!

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  4. Anonymous22 January 2009 at 21:19

    Hi Jodi, It's frightening how close we come to this, sometimes.

    Hi Tony, You're right, things don't change that much.

    Hi Sue@Tumblewords, Thamks, and let's hope it stays there, under the skin!

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  5. Stan Ski22 January 2009 at 21:43

    And that's on a winters day - imagine the crowd in summer.

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  6. Anonymous22 January 2009 at 21:59

    Hi Stan, And if they had a cup final you wouldn't have a leg to stand on!

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  7. Anonymous23 January 2009 at 03:59

    Imagine the stench in the summer. Even Madame LaFarge might have stayed at home. That was quite the brutal piece, and worked well as the images piled into each other to make this awful mountain. Tamerlane used to pile the heads into pyramids - I think you may be on your way...

    PS: Don't understand your browser problem in getting to or commenting on my site. Wish I could be of help.

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  8. Philip Thrift23 January 2009 at 05:52

    Excellent.

    I could hear the counterpoint of La Marseillaise.

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  9. Anonymous23 January 2009 at 07:44

    Excellent capture. I think we're inching ever nearer to broadcast execution. How far will reality TV go?

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  10. Anonymous23 January 2009 at 10:27

    Thanks Richard, I think we're getting there!
    I'll e-mail you about the other thing..

    Thanks Phil, It's still ringing in my ears!

    Hi Cam, it's only a matter of time, perish the thought.

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  11. Rinkly Rimes23 January 2009 at 11:07

    The French Revolution! What a great idea for a ceremony!

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  12. Anonymous23 January 2009 at 14:12

    Thanks Brenda, I enjoyed reading your Cerimonial!

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  13. Kilauea Poetry23 January 2009 at 21:36

    Another good one..unreal!

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  14. Anonymous24 January 2009 at 02:38

    Never understood why this was a "ceremony" in history
    yes, "Madness gone insane"
    Can't say I "enjoyed" this but I appreciate your writing

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  15. Crafty Green Poet24 January 2009 at 18:55

    Gosh yes that's a gory ceremony...

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  16. Linda Jacobs25 January 2009 at 15:37

    Okay, I'm sitting here with goosebumps, now! Scary and powerful!

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  17. Anonymous26 January 2009 at 12:23

    Thanks Regina Marie!

    Hi Gel, the ceremony was the glorification of the revolution and the guillotine was seen as the humane way of execution although, in those days it was painted blood red!

    Hi Crafty Green, Gory in the extreme!

    Thanks Linda, I'm shivering myself!

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