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
Copyright © | Year Posted 2019

Poem

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Inman Avatar
August 31, 2019 at 9:10 PM
Well thought out and nicely written.
Ravidas Avatar
August 13, 2019 at 5:07 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)
Marcum Wong Avatar
August 14, 2019 at 11:38 PM
It is great to have you back my friend! xxoo
Dietrich Avatar
August 12, 2019 at 3:59 PM
oh my goodness, that custom that you footnoted. How horrid. anyway, I loved your poem. congrats on your top win.
Messina Avatar
August 12, 2019 at 5:49 AM
Great write Kurt! Congratulations on your top win. Charlie
Marcum Wong Avatar
August 11, 2019 at 5:30 PM
Wow Kurt! This is fantastic. I was unaware of that terrible custom. Your poem is deserving of its First placement. Congratulations!
Mcgee Avatar
August 11, 2019 at 4:08 PM
Wow. An amazing write about a very delicate subject. Well done and congrats on a 1st place win.
Onclaud Avatar
August 11, 2019 at 2:45 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!
Wolf Avatar
August 11, 2019 at 2:42 PM
Wow, a #1 winner winner, comrade! Working poets of the world unite!! Congrats ~ Volkov
Lamoureux Avatar
August 11, 2019 at 8:03 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.
Krutsinger Avatar
August 5, 2019 at 5:26 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!
Ravidas Avatar
August 5, 2019 at 8:27 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.
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