Who Dares Wins

 

Who Dares Wins

Qui audet adipiscitur

 by Ellen Pepper

 

Spring rain pounding on a slanted roof.

Wind causing walls to strain against it.

Water pooling on the kitchen floor -

The window left open to welcome it.

 

A peculiar man with pecuniary slant

Determines his nut for the night.

A candle burns low on the wooden table.

His hat nearby on a rough-hewn chair.

 

An apron-clad woman ladles stew

into crockery as old and cracked

as her face.

Places it gently near the man

and leaves the room.

 

Tonight, he must break free.

He must pack swiftly and depart.

He must somehow earn fare,

And board the last train for Marseille.

 

His Alsatian waits at the door.

Does not want to be left behind.

He will remain with the woman.

The man may not return this time.

 

Now, spying under the window

of his wealthy neighbour,

the man has a plan.

 

Seeing the family within bickering, squabbling,

He knocks at the door.

“Hello, my neighbours! How goes your night?

I’ve come to bring peace for a small fee.”

 

Invited in, he sits near the fire.

The master of the house waits patiently.

 

“I see there’s a point of contention tonight.

I can easily determine who is wrong

and who is right,

if you would only

Give me one thread to unravel this .”

 

The family confer.

One voice speaks, then another.

Then all speak at once. Cacophony results.

The mystical man begins to sing a lullaby.

 

As minutes pass, the shouting dissipates.

“The issue is resolved, to my delight.

It’s plain to see the Master is in the right.

He knows the ways of the world and

wants only the best for his clan.”

 

“And now, forsooth, I must be off.

I’ve a train to catch and I’ll need the fare.”

The fee presented and he’s at the door.

“Thank you good sir, you’re noble, I swear.”

 

The peculiar man takes his leave.

“Qui audet adipiscitur.”

 

©Ellen Pepper 2026