Home » Poems » Kurt Ravidas » Depended On Kindness

Depended On Kindness

An elderly concubine looks at the black silky lace* in the crimson casket with a smile of understanding. The royal gift of grace from the new young sultan. * The Lace Of The Sultan. Whoever got it had to commit suicide by strangling himself with it. 02/08/2019 Keep It Brief Poetry Contest Sponsored by: nette onclaud Syllables Per Line: 8 6 6 8 6 6

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem.

Please Login to post a comment

James Inman

Date: 8/31/2019 9:10:00 PM

Well thought out and nicely written.

Kurt Ravidas

Date: 8/13/2019 5:07:00 PM

Hi, dear collegues. I'm awfully glad to see you after a two-week absence. Thanks for your beautiful words: they are more important to me than a win which is just a pleasant bonus to the already written poems. God bless you and thank you from my heart)

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 8/14/2019 11:38:00 PM

It is great to have you back my friend! xxoo

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 8/12/2019 3:59:00 PM

oh my goodness, that custom that you footnoted. How horrid. anyway, I loved your poem. congrats on your top win.

Charles Messina

Date: 8/12/2019 5:49:00 AM

Great write Kurt! Congratulations on your top win. Charlie

Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 8/11/2019 5:30:00 PM

Wow Kurt! This is fantastic. I was unaware of that terrible custom. Your poem is deserving of its First placement. Congratulations!

Jeanne Mcgee

Date: 8/11/2019 4:08:00 PM

Wow. An amazing write about a very delicate subject. Well done and congrats on a 1st place win.

Nette Onclaud

Date: 8/11/2019 2:45:00 PM

to be able to translate a complex theme into a meaningful, poetic way is admirable; very creative!... huge congrats and thanks for participating in my challenge, kurt!

Gershon Wolf

Date: 8/11/2019 2:42:00 PM

Wow, a #1 winner winner, comrade! Working poets of the world unite!! Congrats ~ Volkov

Richard Lamoureux

Date: 8/11/2019 8:03:00 AM

I’ll keep this fun fact in my back pocket for the next trivia contest I enter. This might just get me the win. I will also make sure not to get my wife a black Lace teddy.

Caren Krutsinger

Date: 8/5/2019 5:26:00 AM

I am stunned, shocked, and fully aware that this is exactly what happened. Why did I not ever know this? Thank you for the education, Kurt. Your poems are always full of surprises. This one was!

Kurt Ravidas
Date: 8/5/2019 8:27:00 AM

Yeah, a fun historical fact. Usually black lace was sent to the guilty officials. Such a voluntary-compulsory suicide was considered an honorable death and the heirs were not disqualified at their rights. P.S.: Thank you, Caren.