That summer when sweet dew was on the rose
she danced and played along the merry lane
while mother hummed a tune and hung the clothes.
Yet ill winds soon would spin the weather vane.
A stranger from Bigtown, in fancy clothes,
arrived and said he’d traveled on the train.
Slack-jawed and bug-eyed, looked just like a toad.
His coin purse jangled; oh, could he retain
a man to portage trunks to Pleasant Row?
Her father, with six mouths to feed, said yea.
In guileless joy jumped on the cart, unknown
that darkness preyed upon another’s brain.
Next morning’s dawn bloomed pink with eerie glow
as father said the man did need a maid
and after feeding wee ones she should go
to Pleasant Row to serve “the toad” all day.
As dusk began to dust the day’s rainbows
A clumping ‘crost the porch spurred a refrain,
“I wonder with her coins how many loaves?”
Until they saw her stooped and crumpled frame.
How many times have “Lolitas” been portrayed as devious temptresses to the poor predator who just can’t help himself? I decided to tell the truth of the matter of how many youngsters, male and female, have their souls detached at best or extinguished at most at the hands of evil. Death comes in many forms. As Dolores went to bed that night, she was already a corpse.
The following song is written by Chester Bennington of Linkin Park. Chester ended his own life in 2017. He was a victim of childhood sexual abuse. Although the victim in the video is portrayed as female, I have got to wonder if Chester was writing about his own childhood experience.
unedited headstone image was found here
My title is a nod to Bob Dylan’s song, The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll.
Nabokov’s novel, “Lolita,” was published in 1955. Lolita was twelve years old.
Laura is today’s host at dVerse’ Poetics. Laura says:
….Select ONE phrase from these famous departing words
- “All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain” -Roy Batty, Blade Runner
- “My battery is low and it’s getting dark” – Mars rover ‘Opportunity’
- “A certain butterfly is already on the wing.” Vladimir Nabokov
- “I must go in for the fog is rising” Emily Dickinson
- “Ah! The times were good! It was I who was so unhappy”. Sophie Arnould, French operatic soprano
- “My anchor is well cast, and my ship, though weather-beaten, will outride the storm” Samuel Hopkins, theologian
- “Go on, get out! Last words are for fools who haven’t said enough.” Karl Marx
Then using your chosen phrase:-
- Write a ‘deathbed’ poem of your own imagination (time and place optional!)
- It does not have to pertain to the author of your chosen words but can do
- You could include backstory, personality, remembrances, other people present
- Make it sad, funny, sudden, expected, personal or remote
- read Billy Collins’ “Deathbeds” poem – it sets all sorts of scenes
Your poem may take any form and that includes a prose poem
OR (for those who like an extra challenge)
Write in elegiac stanzas i.e quatrains with the rhyme scheme ABAB written in iambic pentameter.
N.B Remember to cite the author of those last words if you use it within your poem or as title. Alternately you could cite it as epigraph
Tao Talk 
A dreadful ending. What a cost to getting all of those coins. We are quickly beguiled but for some, it’s enough to feed a family. Kudos to you for getting this even with a poetry form.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Grace, thank you for reading and your thoughtful comment.
LikeLike
ouch no doubt the song comes from deep within his own experience … this is the most destructive form of abuse. This is how addictions and sex work begins, in self disgust they become oblivious to what they do to their bodies …
powerful poem and social comment Lisa, kudos!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kate, thank you for reading and your sensitive comment ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
it’s a field I worked in for years … then picked up the aftermath in other jobs 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
I read the book. It’s hideous the way the little girl is portrayed, when the entirety of the fault is on the older man…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Paula I didn’t read the book but I saw part of the movie and the actress in it did NOT look 12. I’m sick of the campaign of abuse visited upon women and young children and the lack of institutional accountability for the perpetrators.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Right. They had to make her older for the movie, which took away the main focus of a man preying on a child, not a “sexy” older teen
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such a heartbreaking story Li.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m tired of men being unable to control themselves. Well said. (K)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kerfe, thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is such a distressing subject. You do it justice.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much.
LikeLike
This breaks the heart, Li. Well written. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kitty, thank you very much. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are welcome, Li. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is horrid and sad, but you expressed it well Lisa.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Rob, thank you.
LikeLike
Your heartbreaking write alone was enough to touch a nerve, I needed to step back from. Then you bring up “Lolita.” I was a teen when I read the book after seeing the 1960s movie and was taken aback that no one seemed/wanted to get that this was a grown man raping a young girl. I refused to watch the 90s version. I learned of Sally Horner, the story “Lolita” was based on in the early 2000s.
When I saw the still of the Linkin Park video and knew the song without need the title/caption. I once wrote a blog post on how I was introduced to Linkin Park via the video “Crawling” and how the passion of Chester’s vocals seared through me. I did not write it in the post, but the lyrics are what really tore me apart and though I did not know about his abuse at the time – I just knew those lyrics came from someone who like me “knew”.
Your words struck home to the truth of the real ‘Lolitas’ in the world -especially the Horner-s and Bennington-s who couldn’t live with it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Raivenne, I appreciate you sharing the information that Sally Horner is who Lolita in the book. I didn’t know, the name I used was the name she had in the book. I will definitely be researching Sally now that I know it is her story. I’m glad you “got” what I was going for with the post. Thank you for your knowledge and your empathy.
LikeLike
you tell the narrative so poignantly and in rhyme too – from that wonderful opening to the dark deed
LikeLiked by 1 person
Laura, thank you very much.
LikeLike
Wow. You took that line and ran with it. I did read it, I dunno 10 years ago? Never saw the movie. It’s disgusting how the “blame” of being a young temptress can be put on a child of 12… Brilliant work, Lisa.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dale, thank you for reading and your thoughtful comment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are most welcome.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is brilliantly and sensitively written, Lisa.. sigh ..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sanaa, thank you.
LikeLike
Most of the ones I’ve watched….do look older like you said.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had read Lolita when I was in college….could never bring myself to watch the movies. There are hundreds of Lolitas who die here everyday that it is sickening. Li, thank you for writing this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, Punam, my heart hurts to think of it. You are very welcome ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
LikeLike