Exchange:poem

[debriswoman]

Poem...rated general
Written earlier and posted elsewhere
Word count...less than 500
Characters...Holmes, Watson, and mystery client
For this month’s prompt



That case?

I do recall that case!

That strange and quite outstanding case,

When Holmes agreed to take my place.

For just one afternoon you'll see,

That Sherlock Holmes was played by me...

~0~

I practiced hard to play my part,

And act with brain instead of heart,

And master the detective's art,

And stare with deep and hawk-like gaze,

Through three pipes' worth of smoky haze,

For days and days and days and days.

~0~

And every morning, up and down,

I paced in mouse-hued dressing gown,

With bored and irritated frown.

And Holmes observed; at least I'd show

The lengths I was prepared to go.

The violin (I loved it so);

I asked to play it;

Holmes said "No."

~0~

The fateful afternoon, at last!

I'd marked off every day which passed,

And hoped that time would travel fast.

Anticipation unsurpassed!

My dearest friend had thought it through;

He had my Gladstone bag, I knew,

And cane (quite worth more limping) too;

And thus began my Holmes debut...

~0~

I waited, sat in Holmes's chair

With dour and melancholy air

(A hint of eloquent despair),

Gazed wistfully at violin,

And hoped that Holmes would soon come in

And our performance could begin.

~0~

Holmes entered with his promised guest;

A lady, old and smartly dressed.

I bowed (I think she looked impressed),

And hoped I'd passed a Holmesian test.

I studied Holmes; he looked much older,

Dragged one foot, and rubbed his shoulder.

"My war wounds, Ma'am," he sadly told her.

~0~

He sat her down, then limped away;

He left me there to have my say.

I tried to keep my nerves at bay.

I studied every clue I could

An untied lace, a trace of mud;

And knew a great detective would

Have seen it all and understood.

~0~

I saw torn ribbon round one cuff

And told her lots of clever stuff.

I doubted I'd deduced enough,

But Holmes looked on and seemed amazed;

No hint of scorn, no eyebrow raised.

He simply watched in awe, and praised!

~0~

He followed every single word,

Transfixed by everything he heard;

A miracle had just occurred.

I smoked another pipe (my third).

I carried on in utter bliss;

I'd never had a day like this.

~0~

When entertained, the hours just fly;

The afternoon passed swiftly by

For Holmes, the lady guest and I.

Then all too soon, the day was done,

I'd played my part; I'd had my fun;

Delighted with the tales I'd spun.

~0~

My lady client made to rise;

I smiled back at the sparkling eyes

Of Mrs Hudson in disguise.

Returning to my usual seat,

I thought my happiness complete.

~0~

My greatest ever birthday treat!

Comments

[smallhobbit]

This is brilliant. I'm delighted Mrs Hudson played along too.

[debriswoman]

Thank you:-)

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

I echo the brilliant! Wonderful to see how you tell such intricate stories in verse alone. Love the tale and love the execution!

[debriswoman]

Thank you...pleased you liked it:-)

[scfrankles]

^____^

This is so great. I love how they've all thrown themselves into their parts ^___^ My very favourite bit is:

The violin (I loved it so);

I asked to play it;

Holmes said "No." ^____^

[debriswoman]

Thank you:-)
The violin would be a step too far:-p