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The Lighterman’s Inn

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Dylan di Vilde
Posts: 45
Joined: Tue Jun 18, 2019 6:13 am

The Lighterman’s Inn

Post by Dylan di Vilde » Tue Oct 22, 2019 1:55 am

Deep in the snug of the Lighterman’s Inn
with a twist of tobacco and a ha’ porth of gin,
sit Hatchet-faced Lizzy and Snaggle Tooth Nell
harbouring stories they never can tell,
whispering references dark and opaque -
their mutual fate and wellbeing at stake.
Secrets recalled with a wink or a nod
to shield from the curious and maybe from God
of long buried infants and furtive low jinks
and poisonous herbs slipped in curative drinks,
back street assistances, back alley tricks,
trials and misfortunes they promised to fix.

And rumours created to damn or disgrace
or the guiltless condemned to some far barren place.
Steeped in skulduggery, shrouded in vice 
with nothing that couldn’t be done for a price.
And those who commissioned the crime or the lie
often then skewered and slowly bled dry.

There’s them as do say they weren’t always that way
and once long ago were cruelly brought low.
And others who hope
for the long fated rope
and solemnly swear
they’re the Devil that pair. 

Cautions, Forewarnings but still they steal in
to see Lizzy and Nell at the Lighterman’s Inn.
To read more of my poems buy this big fat book - Rescued from Oblivion at https://www.feedaread.com/profiles/10661/

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Tracy Mitchell
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Joined: Sun Jan 07, 2018 3:58 pm

Re: The Lighterman’s Inn

Post by Tracy Mitchell » Sun Nov 03, 2019 8:40 pm

If there is an actual Lighterman's which is referenced, it gets by me. I take it as a name of a fictional Inn, a setting for this legend story.

I thought Lizzy and Nell may refer to Lizzy Bordon and Nell Cropsy, but I don't need that to be true for the poem to entertain in a slightly dark way.

Again, and as always, I love your facility for cadence, rhyme, and especially story-telling.

Cheers.

T

Dylan di Vilde
Posts: 45
Joined: Tue Jun 18, 2019 6:13 am

Re: The Lighterman’s Inn

Post by Dylan di Vilde » Mon Nov 04, 2019 2:03 am

T

It’s not based on anything in particular, it’s all made up – I was in a Dickensian frame of mind.
To read more of my poems buy this big fat book - Rescued from Oblivion at https://www.feedaread.com/profiles/10661/

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Tracy Mitchell
Posts: 3179
Joined: Sun Jan 07, 2018 3:58 pm

Re: The Lighterman’s Inn

Post by Tracy Mitchell » Mon Nov 04, 2019 9:37 am

Thanks, D.  Vastly entertaining.   :)

indar
Posts: 2908
Joined: Sun Jan 07, 2018 8:00 am

Re: The Lighterman’s Inn

Post by indar » Wed Nov 06, 2019 8:53 am

and on this side of the pond----


http://www.ronnowpoetry.com/contents/ke ... inent.html

 

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Gyppo
Posts: 1338
Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2018 3:28 pm
Location: UK

Re: The Lighterman’s Inn

Post by Gyppo » Thu Nov 07, 2019 2:29 pm

Very Dickensian.  There probably was a real Lighterman's Inn, quite possibly more than one, back in the days when the Lightermen plied their trade along the tidal reaches of the River Thames.  Lots of pubs were named after a local trade when trades tended to cluster around one street or area.  Butchers' Row, Tailors' Terrace, etc.

To my mind it was set in Wapping, within smell of the mudflats, and the two leading ladies were well painted.   Put me in mind of a half remembered quote from a piece about a back street abortionist, offering 'physic for untimely fruit'

Very evocative, Dylan.

Gyppo
I've been writing ever since I realised I could.  Storytelling since I started talking.  Poetry however comes and goes  ;-)

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