In 1712 a young boy was born
in 1713 a young girl
In 1729 the young boy and girl first met
In 1729 the young boy professed his love
In 1731 they were wed
In 1732 the young boys parents died, leaving him the manor and wealth.
In 1732 they paid a stone mason, to carve their nude images
In 1733 their child was born
In 1745 their family mansion was sacked, the couple and child killed, the house was looted. The stone statute of the girl was broken, that of the man was carried off.
In 1746 The stone man had found it's way into the hands of a merchant. He sold it to a bank, where it stood for 84years
In 1830 the stone man was sold to a private collector, as the bank decided to 'remove offensive material'
In 1884 the collector died, the stone man was sold as part of the deceased estate, to a local crime lord.
In 1910 the crime lord was arrested, his assets seized. The stone man was given to a museum. The stone man was cared for by the museum for 88years at a regional branch. It survived both world wars intact, and came through with barely a scratch.
In 1998, due to lack of interest, the regional branch of the museum had to be closed. Space was at a premium, so sadly some works had to be sold. Sadder still, some works failed to find buyers. The stone man was left in the car park of the museum.
In 1998 a passing farmer saw the stone man, and thought it could be used to as a scare crow. He took it home, and painted it green.
In 2000, the bored teenage nephew of the farmer, made the sign that reads "Take a peak" and took the picture. Posting it on the internet.
In 2009 Swan Song uses the picture as a prompt for a poetry competition.
Results of the competition are as of yet unknown.
Author notes
Um.... I'm not really sure what to make of this, and I wrote it. I just started thinking about the history of it... and so it flowed.
A contest entry
- GO WHERE YOUR MIND WILL GO by Swan song.
900 points, ended July 25, 11 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
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How clever!
I really enjoyed this immensely; normally I have a rule not to read poetry while sick but this really stuck out to me - the title was unqiue and the structure of the years and history behind the stone man just made me marvel ... imagine if that happened somewhere!? I reckon it'd be exciting
One of my favourite poems on AP
[I'm very upset this didn't win a trophy - it is Gold to me mate!]
♥
Stay safe
~Manda
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I appreciate your comments. To be fair to the competition author, I think he wanted a poem. This turned into more of a story.
My aim was to give a story, and a dignity I suppose, to the statue. I knew everyone would see it as a comical item without any thought into where it had come from. I was thinking, I wonder what life that statue had before it ended up as a "take a peak" joke.
Anyhow, thanks for your words, much regards.
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very intresting take on the prompt and a long histroy well done
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