a/n: In "The Man with the Twisted Lip", Doctor Watson takes a late journey to Upper Swandam Lane, to retrieve a friend and patient. I was struck by ACD's description of the opium den.
A roundel.
Holmes and companions do not belong to me.
POV of Watson (Holmes puts in a brief appearance.)
The Opium Den
A black-shadowed lane; a vile wharfside alley looms wretched at night.
A patient in need; an opium spell took his senses again.
Steep steps in the dark; a cautious approach to a flickering light.
A black-shadowed lane.
~o~
Red circles of fire; the glimmer as poisonous fumes wax and wane.
A vision of Hell; lost souls unaware of their desperate plight.
All dignity gone; no reason, no honour, no passions remain.
~o~
My patient is found; a haggard, bewildered and pitiful sight.
A wreck of a man; a slave to a drug many battle in vain.
A three-legged stool; an old man transfixed by the flames burning bright.
A black-shadowed lane.
~o~
a/n 2: a roundel has a short repeated phrase in line 1, line 4 and line 11. Lines 2, 5, 7 and 9 rhyme with this, the other lines all rhyme with each other. All lines have the same number of syllables. This form was invented by Swinburne.