Congratulations! Your support has been successfully sent to the author
A History of Wickedness/ In theBootmaker’s Street (a poem)

A History of Wickedness/ In theBootmaker’s Street (a poem)

Published Feb 2, 2023 Updated Apr 22, 2023 Culture
time 1 min
0
Love
0
Solidarity
0
Wow
thumb 0 comments
lecture 290 readings
1
reaction

On Panodyssey, you can read up to 10 publications per month without being logged in. Enjoy5 articles to discover this month.

To gain unlimited access, log in or create an account by clicking below. It's free! Log in

A History of Wickedness/ In theBootmaker’s Street (a poem)

 

A History of Wickedness/ In the Bootmaker’s Street

 

The despotism of the overlord, like a double fold

of skin, closes on the liegemen.        

When no heir is apparent he pulls it back

and it’s farewell and God b’ye to them.

 

In the market town, the workaday sway of the law,

like the guilds’ signs swinging up high, is intact.

Meanwhile, on the stream-bounded lowland,

dynastic clashes drag on for thirty years.

 

But the way the fly landed on the swineherd’s cock,

and the lad quickly pulled the skin over it,

that was a metaphor for something between

master and servant, power and obedience.

 

The bootmakers’ street was loud with news of the battle,

the mob in the gutter were gossipping about revolution,

while in the blowflies’ abdomens the blood of noblemen

mingled with that of the vassals.

 

©Anna Bentley 2022 for the English translation

lecture 290 readings
thumb 0 comments
1
reaction

Comments (0)

You must be logged in to comment Sign in

Are you enjoying reading on Panodyssey?
Support their independent writers!

Prolong your journey in this universe Culture
Membré - bis
Membré - bis

Un mot pour tant bien dans les dictionnaires, ma définition, votre fou-rire, ma foi"...

Bernard Ducosson
1 min
Haiku du printemps
Haiku du printemps

J"ai écrit des haïkus que j'ai mis en couleur par l'aquarelle en revenant de ma résidence au Japon dont certains seront dans...

Julie Espiau
1 min
RIP Val
RIP Val

La première fois que j'ai vu Val Kilmer, c'était dans Top Gun. Il n'avait pas encore le rôle principal mais...

Gand Laetitia
1 min

donate You can support your favorite writers

promo

Download the Panodyssey mobile app