Poets Pub 5th Anniversary Collection - 2020

The Tale of Edward Brown (lyttlejoe)

lyttlejoe
2015 Poet of the Year
Awarded Poet in Perpetuum Oct 29, 2017
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The Tale of Edward Brown

A rugby match of youthful lads
had commandeered the college green
and showing boundless energy
brought cheers from those who watched the scene.
Through determined minds the game did flow,
advantage shifting with every throw.

From a window in his office high, the barrister
emitted a mighty sigh and turned away
his distracted eye, back bent with
concentration now intent upon a document
that lay accusing,
and once again resumed his musing.

An office clerk named Edward Brown,
cast with fatally striking down
a fellow member of the workplace, who some,
too eager to accuse, declined to say so to his face.
Paradoxically, to those aware, both victim and accused
did share, beyond their mutual occupation,
a long, communal love affair.

The facts as stated, were false he knew
and the couple he had long admired;
a loyal pair through love inspired,
needed proof that his belief was true.
Sir Robert Spence, with anger mounting,
poured through lies of false accounting
seeking that grain of truth he knew
would reveal the answer's subtle clue.

The tale they told was vile and ugly,
of crimes committed; of moral shame
attaching like a hungry leech
with blind ambition for sole, self gain
and the slandering of a family name.
'Not on my watch', he spake aloud,
and left his office, head held proud.

The deed was one of fraud and murder
and those accusing said they'd heard her
cry out, ere death's blow took her down,
quite clearly, the name of Edward Brown.
And when at his home he was arrested,
his innocence in vain protested
in spite of how he loved the maid,
his fate was sealed, in jail he stayed

The victim's name was Mary Bender,
who served the office that did render
financial aid to students lacking
sufficient funds and needed backing.
It was here, uncovered quite by chance,
the slyly skewed accounting dance of figures
being misconstrued when
inspections were not carefully viewed.

Alarmed, in Edward she did confide
the misdeed someone tried to hide
and with trepidation, at last agreed
to expose to her masters the felonious deed.
With shock and dismay they heard her speak,
imploring that she not let leak
one word about the startling scandal,
lest indiscretion alert the vandal.

But alas, poor Mary did not know
that when her findings she did show,
there existed with the member board
a possibility she'd ignored.
Confident in her diligent action,
she bowed and left, with one attraction;
a hostile stare, from danger smarting,
traced the naïve maid's departing.

On rumpled sheets, behind cold bars,
one keyhole window to view the stars,
lay Edward Brown, the man accused
whose innocence did now depend
on Sir Robert Spence, and how he'd defend
against facts misused.
"Dear God,' he prayed, through tear filled eyes,
'don't let them end my life with lies'.

Through diligence Sir Robert did divulge,
with careful sifting of the clues, a discrepancy,
and unearthed the seed
revealing the perpetrator of the deed
and author of the cunning ruse.
With proof beyond doubt's flickering shade,
Sir Robert knew- his case was made,
and brought before the college board
his damning theory to be heard.

The board convened, its sole intent
to have the murdered repent
the vicious crime that he did tender
upon the victim, Mary Bender.

Sir Robert rose to state his case,
his eyes affixed upon one face
among the members of the board,
the implication not ignored
and while Sir Robert let his tale unfold,
Edward Brown sat mute, in anguish,
his aching heart grown stony cold
as details of the fraud were told.

The accused, regretting now his greed,
sat trembling in his pulpit
as the court was made to heed
Sir Robert's furious condemnation,
naming him the culprit.

The audience arose as one, in anger,
demanding Edward Brown be freed,
and the deceiving scoundrel now exposed
be sentenced for his loathsome deed.
In panic the member bolted from the stand,
shying from Sir Robert's hand, but
in the melee stumbled down
right at the feet of Edward Brown.

Fear clawed his heart, eyes locked in terror
as Edward Brown the blow did render
with killing force upon the rogue,
and cried aloud, 'For Mary Bender!'

Stunned and staggered, Sir Robert Spence
bemoaned his client's sound defense
now shattered by the vengeance spent,
"Oh, Edward..." came his sad lament.
Brown's retribution now achieved;
a measure of his heart relieved, 'tho
remorse beat still against the cost;
a justice won - a victory lost.

So ends the tale of Edward Brown,
avenger of his lover slain, his innocence
relinquished in favour of a greater gain.
Freedom and the right to live, this choice
he did surrender, electing in its stead
eternity with Mary Bender.