A Tale of Two Cities

**A Tale of Two Cities**
*An Anapestic Reflection on Dickens' Masterwork*

In the time of great tumult, when nations were torn, 
Between London and Paris, two cities forlorn, 
Stood the best and the worst of humanity's face, 
In an age of both wisdom and folly's embrace.

There was Sydney, the lawyer, dissolved and undone, 
Who resembled so closely Charles Darnay, that one 
Could have taken the place of the other with ease, 
Though their hearts bore such different spiritual keys.

Lucie Manette, golden-haired daughter of light, 
Drew her father from madness and prison's long night, 
While the Doctor, once broken by Bastille's cruel stone, 
Found his way back to love and a family, his own.

In the streets of Saint Antoine, the fury arose, 
As Madame Defarge with her knitting composed 
Every name of the nobles who'd crushed the poor down, 
Till the guillotine claimed every head and each crown.

Through the Terror that raged like a storm through the land, 
Love and sacrifice walked there, hand within hand, 
As Sydney ascended the scaffold to die 
For another man's life with his noble reply.

"It's a far, far better thing that I do here today 
Than I've ever accomplished," we hear Sydney say, 
"And the rest that I go to surpasses all rest 
That I've known in this life." Thus he met his last test.

From the chaos of revolution's terrible call 
Rises Dickens' great lesson that encompasses all: 
Though the worst times may test us with cruelty's rod, 
Human hearts can still reach toward mercy and God.