A poetic tale of love, ambition, and regret, this rhymed narrative explores the story of a young man striving to rise in status and win the hand of the woman he loves. Set against a backdrop of historical intrigue and societal pressure, the poem touches on themes of romance, patronage, family duty, and personal sacrifice. As the protagonist seeks wealth and position within the Commonwealth’s corridors of power, he is faced with a moral dilemma that tests both his integrity and his heart. Came to me after reading Simon Scarrow’s books on Wellington and Napoleon.

This is a tale of well-intended rage,
To lift one’s lot—and raise one’s wage.
Of a young lord, though not lord yet,
Made famous later, to French regret.

He fell in love with a radiant girl,
Beneath wide skies, in a breathless whirl.
They talked for hours through moonlit nights,
Dreaming of days in sunlit heights.

Her brother, who kept the family firm,
Wisely asked him to confirm:
Could he afford a house, a carriage,
Before he asked for a hand in marriage?

The tyke thought hard and took it to heart,
Wrote to his brother to play a part.
Patronage thrived in the Commonwealth—
Deals struck in quiet rooms, cloaked in stealth.

Brotherly love bore swift reward:
A station secured for the soon—known lad.
But he turned pale with sudden sob,
When he learned whom he would rob.

Her uncle and his bright protégé
Would now be in his firing way.
He begged and pleaded, struck with dread,
But couldn’t resign—the role was wed.

She never spoke to him again.
Lost in regret, he clutched his pen.
He wrote: when dreams begin to unfurl,
You may be an earl—and still lose the girl.