Mystery at Baddesley Clinton *** (revision 3) Options

[Eisa]

Mystery at Baddeley Clinton (revision 3)

Nicholas returned early, gasped;
the priest was stroking
his wife’s chin - or perhaps

he was about to choke her.
Horror fuelled rage, sword
flashed in candle light.

Step over him now, buried in upright
stance beneath St Michael’s entrance.
As penance, he built the church steeple.

The library floor remains ensanguine
by the stone arched fireside, but
it’s pig’s blood daubed on the boards.

Erroneous legend; the killing
took place in an ancient room
no longer standing.

Now, footsteps echo along
panelled corridors that lead
to the reading room.

Voices argue, startle; a priest
takes mass in the shadows.
A woman in black drifts

through walls. Objects move,
door handles turn
- hands unseen.

--------------------------------------------
Mystery at Baddesley Clinton (revision 2)

Nicholas returned early, the priest’s
hands on his wife’s chin. Was he
stroking her or trying to choke her?
Was it jealousy or fear when rage erupted,
sword drawn on the holy man?

Nicholas paid penance,
building a steeple for St Michael’s.
You can step over him,
buried in upright stance
beneath the church entrance.

The library floor remains ensanguine
by the stone arched fireside;
tests conclude pig’s blood was daubed
on the boards. Yet this killing
was chronicled in an ancient room.

Arguing voices startle;
the priest takes mass in the dark.
Footsteps echo along
panelled corridors that lead
to the reading room.
A woman in black drifts through
walls, objects move
and door handles turn
by unseen hands.


------------------------------------------
Murder at Baddesley Clinton (revision1)

The library floor remains ensanguine
in front of the stone arched fireplace,
topped with its oak over-mantel.

Nicholas returned early, the priest
was stroking his wife's chin.
Was he flirting or about to strangle her?
Rage erupted, sword stabbing life
from the holy man.

Nicholas paid penance,
building a steeple for St Michael’s.
You can step over him,
buried in upright stance
beneath the entrance.

Indelible blemishes by the fireside
tested to be pig's blood, yet
a killing was chronicled
in part of the house
no longer standing.

Arguing voices startle;
the priest takes mass in the dark.
Footsteps echo along
panelled corridors that lead
to the reading room.
A woman in black drifts through
walls, objects move and handles
turn by unseen hands.


_______________________________________

Murder at Baddesley Clinton

The library floor remains ensanguine
in front of the stone arched fireplace
topped with its oak over-mantel.

Nicholas returned early, discovered
the priest stroking his wife's chin.
Was he flirting or about to strangle her?
Rage erupted, sword stabbing life
from the holy man.

Indelible blemishes by the fireside
tested to be pig's blood, yet
a killing was chronicled
in the ancient section of the house,

Footsteps sometimes echo along
panelled corridors that lead
to the reading room;
door handles turn
by unseen hands.

[Eisa]

Another revision - hoping this is more mysterious and trimmed

Eira