The sands of time had ground to dust.
The wheels of justice left the bus.
My day in court long overdue,
due process – it seemed – had stood me up.
This sleepy town gave me arrest
for stealing nest eggs off their nests.
When left to choose ‘twixt right and wrong,
I wrongly chose, then quickly left.
Blind justice sniffed me out that day,
threw me in jail; the key, away.
Each year, society’s ransom grew.
How long until this debt was paid?
One night I knew just what to do.
I poison-penned an IOU,
slipped through the cracks and stole away,
and vowed my life of crime was through.
I bailed from jail, but I’m still not free.
I watch my back, it watches me.
I’ll no more practice to deceive, ‘cuz
from ‘neath her blindfold, justice sees.
dVerse Poetics: Twisted Adages. “For this week’s Poetics, we will start with an adage, or several adages, but we won’t stop there. I am asking you to craft your poetry around an adage or two that you must change in some significant way.”
I may have gotten a bit carried away with my wordplay, but you know, when it rhymes, it pours.
I wrote a previous post that fits the bill for this challenge as well. You may find it here.
Nice lines: “I watch my back, it watches me.” and “stealing nest eggs off their nests”.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love all the wordplay going on here…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you.
LikeLike
You caught my attention with that clever title, but then drew me in with the story and all that it entails. So well done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! And thanks for the fun prompt!
LikeLiked by 1 person
“This sleepy town gave me arrest
for stealing nest eggs off their nests.
When left to choose ‘twixt right and wrong,
I wrongly chose, then quickly left.”
Love this, Maggie!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLike
Very clever! I enjoyed the word play and the rhythm.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLike
Loving all the word play here, Maggie…..indeed “when it rhymes it pours!” 🙂 Chuckling I am.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! This was a fun one to write!
LikeLike
love the word play and the continuity of the story
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, I’m glad you liked it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
loved this, an entire story on its own that kept me engaged all through
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have heard the word adage but would suffer to define it. Be as it may, I like this poem but most of all this line: “I poison-penned an IOU.” It deserved to be heard more widely.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed it. I’m not so sure I could define adage either.
LikeLiked by 1 person