Stingy Jack
written by: MR.QUIPTY
@MRQUIPTY
forever a glow that orange
glimmer single point
the
mark of a sinner
spectre of the woods is the horror
of Stingy Jack
of silver tongue
and thirsty too
this lad of County ‘saffron and blue’
lived by his wits and the games he
would do.
ever eager to dare:
at a bar in Clare
declared
“Tonight I shall drink
and not a shilling
will my purse shrink”
dark corner there held
that old gambler of
souls who to Jack
told
“never a coin shall you turn
again
if you wager your soul
that you’ll drink free in
this tavern”
Stingy Jack turned to that
devil and said he could
have his soul for a devil’s
penny to pay for his
bevy
hungry for a spirit that
monger
clinked
to the floor.
in a flash that penny was lost
and held up close
to Jack’s silver cross
at the Devil’s cost.
shaking his purse for year or more
Stingy Jack drank free on the lore
but the Devil so wanted to even
the score.
A night of heavy drinking
Jack stumbled on
cobbles – sinking –
out clinked the
devil into a crevice
and true to its promise
turned to devour
Jack curled up there.
the smell of Hell
and opening of Hades
shook from Jack these phrases
“my soul you take but
surely the condemned
is due a final meal”
Devil paused
“look I have fallen
at Adam’s tree
deny me an apple
given its destiny”
the Devil was sold on
that story silverly told
so set to climbing that tree
fetching
Stingy Jack
his tea.
Jack, the
silver tongue liar
had that Devil
climbing higher
in pursuit
of bigger fruit.
Jack up in flash
blade in hand
dash
to carve in a ring
crosses on the
trunk and began
to sing
“10 years in this tree
you will rest
and never my soul
can you accept”
Devil could do little
and the matter settled
until some years later
after hard drinking
Jack’s heart faltered …
Turned away from gates
of pearl to fiery grates
did that soul go
to
that Devil below.
tied to the bind
told Jack to mind
the woods and walk
them forever.
Jack turned away.
the Devil called Jack
back with
one hand in fiery sack
“here Stingy lad a coal
from hell may it burn
forever in that selfish
hand.”
And there we have the
story of
Jack O’ Lantern
carved from pumpkin’s
planted
a reminder in trick or treat
to be avoiding the heat
always pay your way in silver
Or from Stingy Jack’s haunting
you
will
I have poetry and stories in "Not Enough To Quit" by Modern Writers published by ATLA Publishing, and a children's poem in "Un-Turn This Stone: short stories for children" by Aviva Treger et al.
- Drunken Sailor - November 27, 2016
- Spotlight On Writers – MR.QUIPTY - November 26, 2016
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