The Black Plague | Teen Ink

The Black Plague

February 26, 2009
By AndThisIsReal PLATINUM, Broadalbin, New York
AndThisIsReal PLATINUM, Broadalbin, New York
31 articles 0 photos 81 comments

Favorite Quote:
Dans chaque fil il y a un debut.


The Black Plague

The ships that clawed their way upon
The unsuspecting Messina shore
Were plagued with the infectious disease
Of which their tired bodies bore.

It swept darkness through the towns
Knocked on every door
Spat on every welcome mat
Not to be escaped by lock or cure

The disease violently took wind
The air tainted with every cursed breath
Upon which more lives were stolen
As further more its evil swept.

Oh to gaze upon the morbid sight
I'd never want to do
To see al seized with sore and fever
And precious blood askew

For it had no target
It attacked young and old the same
A mere few days you were given
All of which you were succumbed in pain.

There was no mother for comfort
At the end of her fair haired child's life
Unless she too was willing to face the atrocious death
A gift of ultimate sacrifice

So when they could move no more
Bodies were left where lifeless the laid
Posies in the pocket
No blessing
And no grave.



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This article has 2 comments.


GlitterFox said...
on Nov. 12 2009 at 6:35 pm
Oooh, the last two lines gave me chills! This reminds me of those poetic classics written in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries--both because of the subject and your writing style. Did you intend that? Because it works beautifully. My only qualm is the rhyme scheme. I think this would flow much smoother as free-verse, because it currently has choppy, halting rhythm, which makes it difficult to read. Also, some of the rhymes seem forced. You have a lot of talent (I can tell that right away:D) but you're cramping your expression by forcing rhyme. You don't have to take my advice, but maybe experiment with free-versing it? Overall, this is a dark, haunting beauty with real potential. Keep it up! And by the way, thanks for your review on "Youngest Daughter." It made me smile.

on Sep. 20 2009 at 10:55 pm
JoyousLife BRONZE, Brooklyn, New York
4 articles 0 photos 4 comments
Wow. I really liked this poem....it got to me. It has great rhythm.