6th Dec prompt from Hades Lord of the Dead - Holmes and Watson have an argument
Clash
Baker Street, the clock chimes midnight;
catgut strings meet horsehair bow.
Restless wide awake detective
plays while pacing to and fro.
Muffled oath, then thud on carpet,
slippered feet on bedroom floor
up above the parlour ceiling,
down the stairs, outside the door.
Pacing stops, the lone musician
pauses solo violin.
Dressing-gowned, disgruntled doctor
storms the threshold, thunders in,
glares at wide awake detective,
points at clock on mantelpiece;
hands at twelve, his startling gesture
indicates that noise should cease.
Acquiescence…violin
is propped against the fireplace,
wide awake (and bored) detective
fetches his Morocco case,
puts it on the parlour table,
rolls a sleeve up, taps a vein,
lifts the lid, the angry doctor
slams it firmly closed again.
Riled, the wide awake detective
grabs it from the doctor's hands,
stops…observes the doctors features;
pale and shadowed, understands
the recent nights on call, the duty
stealing restful sleep away;
raised, apologetic eyebrows
indicate what words can't say.
Dressing-gowned, disgruntled doctor
nods, acknowledging his friend;
knows demands from frantic clients,
seeking justice, never end.
~0~
Peace restored, the weary doctor
smiles, retrieves the violin,
wraps himself in cosy blankets,
sleeps as lullabies begin.
~0~
