This was written by my father who is a retired police officer. He is 77 years old now and very ill, but in the early days of his career, he walked a beat. He wrote this after being moved by the human suffering he saw and tried so hard to alleviate. He somehow managed to maintain that compassion throughout his career and it always bothered him that he could do little more than ponder the reasons, and walk away. He was a good police officer. He is an even better man.

These are his words and I share them with his permission. View table of contents...

Submitted: Jul 4, 2008    Reads: 31    Comments: 2    Likes: 3   

On Passing A Deserted Castle

(Reflections On A Human Derelict)

Magnificent mansion beautifully made.

By weather and time now decayed.

What secrets hold you of the past?

Why stand you beaten and downcast?

Did your master some luckless spring

Lose in love and cause this thing?

Or did one of them while ruling you

A fortune lose and punish you?

Or maybe in one beautiful room

A death occurred and caused your doom.

Which one of these I do not know,

But that one happened I am certain.

Well the time has come that I must go.

And even I ring down your curtain.

3

Email this story | Print Story | Add to reading list

Comments:

Olwen

Your fathers poem is wonderful.. that he thinks who was there and why neglect, none of us really know why.. I love this poem.. tell him if you can. he put into words what all may think and others never consider..thanks olwen

Posted: Jul 7, 2008

Author Comment:

I will and he will be humbled by your comments. Thank you so much from both of us. Sheryl

ScatterBrain

It is truly a wonderful poem. I hope he is well. My father is 79 and a retired police captain, 1989. I am currently a fire lieutenant. I know first hand the horrors of humanity. Send our regards and well wishes from a couple of civil servants to another. Take Care, Ted

Posted: Jul 14, 2008

Author Comment:

I will surely do that. He is not well, multiple heart attacks and 13 stints in his heart, and he's been on kidney dialysis now for over 2 years. We do it at home, 4 times a day every day. But he's such a trooper (no pun intended). He just keeps on fighting, but lives primarily now through us. He knows all about my new friends here and I've read much of your writing to him. He's a big albeit silent fan.

I grew up watching an honorable man do an honorable job, as all civil servants do. I even followed in his footsteps although I've been out of it now for years. We all owe you all a great debt.

Thank you for your kind words. I'll be seeing him in the morning and can't wait to let him know that you read his work and liked it. It will humble him I'm sure.

Thanks so much. Sheryl

Add Your Comments:

Your Name:

Spam protection control::

Verification code:

© Copyright 2008 itsinthetelling All rights reserved. itsinthetelling has granted theNextBigWriter, LLC non-exclusive rights to display this work on Booksie.com.