Under
He crouched among the ‘noble’ men
Of so much worth they were much to him
As seas carry creatures, he carries hope within
How much longer must he wait for them, then-
To let him in?
A beam of a smile appeared on his face
They spoke of beautiful women, in dance and grace
Their laughter fed his soul like water quenching fire
His confidence low, yet high his most wanted
Desire
The chatter was of an upcoming banquet
With well-dressed lovelies, their speech eloquent
Hearts swollen with wine and merriment
He longed to live among them
With resentment
Eyes never glanced his way, he hoped to find
A gleam coming to meet him eye to eye
And as they spoke with anxious humor,
There came over the youth a sudden
Tremor
He was ready to make himself known
In beggar’s clothes he would have shown
That he can speak as eloquent as any
And that the smallest bodies of waters
Are plenty
The ‘noble’ men continued their vibrant chat
Without a thought of the boy, not e’en a glance
When suddenly the youth sprung up, ignited
“My friends, I too—I too
Am excited!”
There was a pause in the chilly air
Some men laughed but the host merely stared
The beggar man smiled and bowed so nobly
They would have never suspected a man of his tongue
As lowly
The smile disappeared as they continued to jeer
And the boy was overtaken with inferior fear
At last the host said, “Good man, I am glad you are excited,
But do tell me—er...were you ever
Invited?”
His head went down the kindhearted floor
He could not take the unfeeling eyes on him anymore
Pained to the marrow of his bones, he shook his head
He was never invited, he was never
Well fed
He ran away with tears in his youthful eyes
It is sad how quickly one’s hope can die
And all that night no hope remained but hunger,
Leaving him driven to survive, not above
But under
Copyright © Laura Breidenthal | Year Posted 2013
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