Sunday, June 20, 2010

MAGPIE/ Prompt #19

photo/willow/magpie tales


THE PRIZE

A sweet faced gentleman
stopped in front of the display case,
smiled shyly at me,
and said "Imagine that". 

Indeed.   

To be auctioned tonight, 
a pair of antique knives,
Opinel, Made in France,

displayed in a porcelain dish,
innocuous enough, except
for the list of previous owners.
 
Topping it was a Mr. Sweeney Todd
who had given the knives
as a gift of partnership
to Mrs. Lovett,
for chopping and slicing
certain ingredients
of her cannibalic pastry. 

Next on the list,
the knives
were traced
to Jack the Ripper,  
the ones he used
in the Whitechapel "Canonical Five".  

A link of cuts inscribed the throats, 
stood out to the knowing eye,
as the Modus Operandi.  

I shuddered at last in such a presence,
moved along
and found a seat
next to the gentleman,
who played by bidding for the knives, 
ran it high and won the set.

He smiled again in my direction
as off he went
to pay for the prize,
and quietly said in a whispered tone,
"I'll show them to you later if you'd like..

Allow me to introduce myself, 
my name is Hannibal Lecter,
let's chat... 
I'm here all alone".

@copyright/all rights reserved/2010


Again, a big thank you to Willow for presenting another intriguing Magpie Tale. 

http://www.ellerochelle.blogspot.com/
http://www.minblu.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/lynxny

34 comments:

Sam Liu said...

This is wonderful, a truly fascinating historical poem, so excellently crafted with wit and skill.

Lyn said...

Hi Sam-
Welcome! Most generous in your comments..thanks!!

Helen said...

Oh My!!! This was QUITE the Magpie! Full of intrigue, history, and horror! Wonderful!

RA said...

What a thrilling concept! A great Magpie, well done!

Lyn said...

Hi Helen-
Could not resist this prompt! Thanks for being chilled...

Lyn said...

Hi RA-
I must admit, this was right up my alley..thanks so much for visiting!

Skaputziner said...

This is wonderful, a truly fascinating historical poem, so excellently crafted with wit and skill.

Linda said...

Interesting magpie. Chilling, thrilling, leaving us to imagine a horrifying ending.

Lyn said...

Hi Skaputziner-
More than kind! Thanks for visiting..

Lyn said...

Hi Linda-
Thanks..I guess it can't have a happy ending..unless??

Stafford Ray said...

Ahhhhh! Who else could it have been! But lyn, don't go. It's not a chat he wants!

Lyn said...

Hi Stafford-
Thank you...you're the only one who's warned me..my hero!!!

Everyday Goddess said...

did he want you to bring the chianti as well as yourself? tee hee.

great magging!!

Lyn said...

Hi Everyday...
I think I came to my senses..and had fun in the bargain!
Thank you...

Sheri said...

aauugghh! i knew you were up to something sinister when i first read 'sweeny todd'! lyn, you have a knack for giving me the creeps, but i always come back, hoping for more chocolate delights ;) your magpie is stunning, so very well written!!

Tumblewords: said...

Well, that gave me chills. I kept hoping she'd meet a nice knife bidder! :) Great work!

Tess Kincaid said...

Oh my gosh!! Sweeney Todd!! I wish I had thought of that! And a little Hannibal Lecter thrown in for added chill at the end. Perfect!!

Lyn said...

Hi sheri-
I've got some more tricks up my sleeve..just a warning!!!
Thanks so much for your kind words.

Kathe W. said...

super shivery and creepy. Well done!

Lyn said...

Hi Willow-
You keep dishin' em out, I'll keep getting weird..thanks for everything!!!

Lyn said...

Hi Tumblewords:
A nice knife bidder?? Your dreams have come true!! Funny...thanks so much.

Lyn said...

Hi kathew-
Thanks so much..glad I had the right effect on you!!

A Cuban In London said...

It is amazing how you move slowly and smoothly through each historical period. Such grace and elegance and at the bottom of it lies the horror of the final cut. Many thanks.

Greetings from London.

Lyn said...

Greetings to a Cuban-
Final cut..good phrase! Guess I'm just a fan of thrills and chills!!!
Thank you...

Gabriela Abalo said...

I love it!!

loveNlight
Gabi

Lyn said...

Hi Gabriela-
Thanks for the very kind comment!!

Brian Miller said...

yikes...wonderfully written...and a few shivers along hte way....perhaps it was the knives and not the men who wielded them...hmm...nice magpie!

Lyn said...

Hi Brian-
Thanks, always!...it is possible that the knives made them do it..that's the next story!!

Paul C said...

Knifes and mayhem are cleverly depicted here. Entertaining.

Lyn said...

Hi Paul-
Thank you..my kind of prompt!

Words A Day said...

thrilling, and all from an innocent plate and knife! Well done!

Lyn said...

Hi Words...
Sp pleased to hear from you..thanks so much!

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh!!! What a post! What a poem! And most importantly, what a thought! BRAVO!
I felt a chill go down my spine when I read the last line...brrrr... too good!!! (umm...not the chiil, but the poem!)
Keep up the terrific work!

Lyn said...

Hi kavisionz-
I do like chilliness! Thank you so much for your kindness..

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