Gone With the Wind - The Poem (Page 2)

You may think this poem is a bit strange -- I had to twist the story a bit to make things rhyme. Please do not steal it - it was hard work.

Within two weeks Ashley wed Melly
and the next day she was married to Charlie.
Two months later she was a single maid
and soon after that, a mother to Wade.
Through crocodile tears and yelling a bit
her mother decided it would be fit
if she went to Atlanta for a while.
Scarlett went with a satisfied smile.
Aunt Pitty and Melly did everything
to make her as happy as a king
but widowhood still was dull.
With no men, Atlanta was in a lull
until a bazaar needed Melly and Pitty.
Scarlett said, looking innocent and pretty,
"I think it would be good for all of us to go!"
And, with help from Melly, it was so.
Once there, Scarlett ached to dance
and watched the other girls in a trance
knowing she was prettier than all
of the girls who danced at that ball.
Dr. Meade stopped the fun
to introduce them to someone.
"It is an honor and a treat
to say it's Captain Butler that we greet!
A great blockade runner, why he
brought all the dresses that you see!"
Captain Butler bowed, while Scarlett
hid her face, so she would not let
him see her startled and angry look,
but Rhett saw and read her like a book.
"Hello Miss Scarlett," he said with a bow.
Melly interrupted: "She's Mrs. Hamilton now."
Rhett poorly hid his surprise
while Scarlett avoided his dancing eyes.
When a man in grey came around
to take the jewels from the crowd
Melly gave up her wedding ring
after Scarlett said they hadn't a thing.
Rhett told Melly he admired her so
and Scarlett, jealous, then did throw
her wedding ring on top of the pile
while Rhett laughed at her all the while.
Dr. Meade requested Melly's aid
in helping with a decision he'd made.
Melly said it would be quite all right
if he auctioned the girls off that night.
He told everyone about his plan:
If a girl was desired by a man
to dance with for the first song
he had better hurry along
and bid for her! The money was for
the hospital and getting more
supplies. The young ladies were quite gay
and the men did bid away
until shocking words fell like a ton:
"One hundred and fifty dollars - for Mrs. Hamilton!"
Everyone looked . . . it was Rhett!
Dr. Meade simply shook his head.
"She is in mourning. She won't consider it!"
Scarlett thought that it would be fit
and wanted to dance! So she proclaimed
"Oh, yes, I will!" -- not even ashamed!
She danced and had the gayest of times
all the while thinking that because of this crime
her mother would be notified, and oh! the shame!
She didn't want to disgrace her mother's name!

When Rhett came from Paris, he bought her a hat
a perfect shade of green, fancy that!
Scarlett said, with a smirk, "If you think I'll marry you
just for the hat, forget it! It is nice to have something new."
"I'm not a marrying man," said Rhett, a smile on his face
as he watched as Scarlett put her new hat in place.
"How do I look?" she asked, dimpling prettily.
"Awful!" Rhett declared. "The worst I'll ever see!
You've put it on back to front!"
"I won't see you again, if that's what you want!"
"You won't do that. Don't be proud!
I'm the only man left in this crowd
who's under sixty to show you a good time.
I love you, Scarlett! And if that's a crime
I'm guilty!" "The feeling is not returned."
"Have it your way. Have you heard
about the situation involving your love
in a battle in Gettysburg?" "Heavens above!
Is it a bad one, Rhett? Answer me!"
Rhett had already begun to leave
and ignored our impatient heroine.
"Shall I see my Ashley again?"
The whole town of Atlanta waited
for the task that each one hated:
to see if their loved ones were dead.
They waited anxiously, full of dread
and when the man, with the lists in hand
came to give them to the band
of citizens, they were ripped away
to find the price they had to pay.
Sobs arose from the crowd
none of the people being too proud
to hide their tears, so heartbroken were they!
Their Cause had taken their loved ones away.
Melanie clutched at Scarlett's arm
her eyes filled with fear and alarm
saying, "You read it! W's are at the end!
Oh, Scarlett! You are such a friend!"
Scarlett read the names, Wilkes wasn't one!
Melanie could have reached the sun
so joyful was she that her love was alive!
Then she remembered those who'd died.
Mrs. Meade was sobbing, she'd lost her Hugh.
"I must go to her. Wait here, won't you?"
she said to Scarlett and went away
to see if she could ease her pain.
Rhett came riding up to her
looking cross. "On my word!
I've never seen you look sad!"
"I'm not, my dear. I'm mad
at all this waste! And that's what it is!
Their glorious Cause led them to this!
Is there anyone that you know?"
There were, and she told him so.
"But Ashley Wilkes, he was spared."
"But he will be well prepared
to come home from the war
to his wife and her sister-in-law
both of whom love him so!"
"You are vulgar! Why don't you go!"

Melanie and Scarlett were nursing now;
there wasn't much to do anyhow.
Comforting and picking lice off men,
trying to clean them a bit, then
taking them away to be seen.
Nothing could be kept clean.
The whole place smelled; Scarlett hated it so!
Oh how she wished that she could go
home to Tara! It would be clean!
but she couldn't, because sister Carreen
had gotten sick. Scarlett was mad;
she wanted to go home real bad!
The Yankees were closer every day
and she was scared in every way.
One day she was needed by
a doctor who was going to try
to amputate a leg without ether.
He would just be left to suffer.
Scarlett couldn't take it anymore!
She ran out of the open door.
She was met my an amazing sight
People were mobbing from left and right
onto the streets and moving out of town,
not waiting for the Yankees to come around.
Scarlett fought the mob, going to her Aunt's
moving as one does in a trance,
until a voice cried out to her
and she saw, in a buggy, Rhett Butler.
He spoke to her about traveling
together (without a wedding ring!)
Scarlett was shocked and ran away
and told Rhett Butler that he could stay
away from her for the rest of his life.
Saying those things! She wasn't his wife!
Aunt Pitty was packing up to leave
as she snuffled and sobbed into her sleeve.
Scarlett wanted to go away too
but Dr Meade said, "Who
will look after Miz Wilkes when her time grows near?
She'll need a doctor and there is no one here
to stay and help. You cannot go!"
Scarlett was mad, but found it was so.
One morning later Melly was bad off.
Scarlett snapped at Wade, who sobbed and hiccoughed.
She sent Prissy to go get Dr Meade
and anyone else that they would need.
She bathed Melly, who tried not to complain
even when she was in the worst of pain.
Prissy came back; no doctor was there --
Scarlett was upset, and tore at her hair.
"You'll have to bring the baby now."
"Oh, Miss Scarlett! I doan know how!"
Scarlett slapped Prissy and went to get
Dr. Meade while Prissy screamed and wept.
But Dr. Meade could not come to her
since soldiers were dying far and near.
So Prissy and Scarlett had to go
and deliver themselves baby Beau.
After the baby had arrived Prissy
acting scared and like a sissy
went to find Rhett, who could
get them out of Atlanta, if he would.
"Cap'n Butler!" Prissy screamed
as a bomb dropped closer than it seemed,
"Please bring your carriage right away!
Miss Scarlett leaves Atlanta today!"
"I would love to, Prissy, of course,
but the army took my carriage and horse.
But hush up now, I'll see what I can get."
"Please hurry!" Prissy wept.
So Rhett stole a buggy and nag
and got Scarlett, who cried into a rag,
"I want my mother! My mother needs me!"
"What about Melly? And the baby?"
"I'll go if I have to walk every step!
Even you can't stop me, Rhett!"
So Rhett, Melly, Prissy and Beau
through the burning town did go
among the looters and bandits there
and exploding boxcars - what a scare!
Finally, when out of sight
and into the lonely, fire-lit night
Rhett announced he was to enlist
and begged Scarlett that he be kissed.
"You're leaving us here? Oh, Rhett, no!
We need you, and I won't let you go!"
"My dear, I must, so kiss me goodbye,"
said Rhett with a twinkle in his eye.
Scarlett was kissed and then with a smack
she sent Rhett to the final attack.

I will try and write more of this when I have more time! Please be patient in the meantime....