A reader’s poem: Oscar – Sebastian

And though that Oscar was your name
‘Twas Sebastian when you died
And shadows dark did fill the Earth
As all the angels cried

And all those days you spent in shame
In Reading’s fearful hole
Where darkness filled each dreaded hour
And sorrow filled your soul

And all your writings with their wit
And lessons to be learnt
So many gone by thieving hands
Or maybe many burnt.

O Oscar why were you not born
In this enlightened age
And O that glory would be yours
Upon each gilded page.

O Oscar, poor Sebastian
An outcast in your time
‘Twas those that sent you to that cell
You paid their heinous crime.
You heard those bells, the bells of wrath
The bells of Reading Gaol
And as each day you spent alone
Each bell a coffin nail.

You heard each man relate his tale
Of why he was condemned,
Condemned to pay the price for sin
You heard those doomed men wail.

You heard the sound of morning’s bells
The cries of those forlorn,
You saw their faces anguished grey
The horror of each morn

For some would live though some would die
In Reading’s darkened hole
O that you should share their lot
Their burden on your soul

But now the world remembers you
This day which you were born,
O Oscar, sweet Sebastian
The world shall ever mourn.

Remembering the 16h october the birthday of Oscar Wilde 1854–1900

by Sherifa Rashidally