This is basically an additional character that I created for the Canterbury Tales and is based off of Chaucer's writing style. However, though I am only 17 years young, the story gives light to my backstory and how I came to be the man that I now am.

 

The Computer Programmer

Now to this party, let us add one more.

Years have gone by since he’s opened his door.

Hiding away from the sun so cruel,

Red Mountain Dew is what he calls his fuel.

Quite immune to any email spammer,

This man is the Computer Programmer.

 

The pallor of his skin is quite shocking.

His legs are barley used, just for walking

To the kitchen pantry that is half full

To spike his joe with a shot of Red Bull.

On his shirt that perhaps has been worn twice,

His leftover chinese has left some rice.

His eyes are bloodshot and his beard unkept;

His shaggy hair messy from where he’s slept.

 

All sorts of knowledge is what he will claim,

Facts about his favourite video game.

He has saved Hyrule, and he’s caught them all.

He’s freed the princess, and looted the haul.

But besides all of that, how’d we forget,

His computer skills are reason to fret!

Bypassing firewalls in mere seconds,

Mouse and keyboard are his greatest weapons.

Fluent in C++ and Javascript,

He sure keeps open source software well whipped.

Love, even obsession, is what he’s showed;

He’s devoted his whole life to his code.

 

__________________________________________________

 

 

 

 

There’s a story for you, gents, if you’re keen.

Just let me finish applying sunscreen!

You see indoors is where the sun is not,

And as for me, I find the sun too hot.

So in my house I choose to spend my day.

Apart from the world, I would shy away.

But now that I’m done, let me tell my tale.

Leave if your thinking is that it’s too stale.

 

My story begins a long time ago.

As a boy I would hide far from the schmoes.

They were quite mean, and they called me a nerd.

They broke my glasses, and gave me the bird.

With tears in my eyes, I vowed I would not

Spend my life with people who were just rot.

So I went to where I would always go,

When I did not wish for my face to show.

See video games were my sweet escape.

A place where my glasses held with scotch tape

Could not torment me, or make me feel small.

‘Cause in these games, I was lord of them all.

 

With the hit of a key, I’d leave this world,

And after loading, a new one unfurled.

For this was a place where I was adored;

And where my self confidence was restored.

I was a hero, special and needed.

That’s when a thought in my head was seeded.

Why expose myself to hatred out there?

I’m simply fine in my computer chair.

So I gave up the act of conforming,

Stopped trying to fit in or start norming.

I left that world behind and I began

My quest to be better than any man

At anything computer related.

And with goal in mind, I was elated!

 

In a little time, I had found myself.

You should have seen my level 60 elf!

Alduin was never a threat to me,

And every princess I did set free!

Every hour of every day

I would devote my life, playing this way.

With the threat of the bullies far behind,

My outlook on life had become refined!

 

And as I got older, my skills increased.

That not just at my games was I a beast.

With mouse in hand no firewall was safe.

Although I’d sit so long, my bum would chafe.

You could say maliware was like my drug.

And that most feared on the web was my bug.

But fear not friend, for I’ve turned a new leaf.

I’ve gave up hacking and being a thief.

Those days were in my teens, and I knew not

That, like the bullies, I was being rot!

So I used my skills like Spock had used brawn

For the great of good; he defeated Khan!

 

So by now,  I am well in my thirties.

At a full time job, working with QWERTY.

I work every day on lines of code.

Luckily, I can stay in my abode.

I work into night ‘til I crash right there.

And I’d sleep through the night still in my chair

Just to start another day in the same way.

Would I work until my brain would decay?

See, I can’t help but think, “Is this my life?”

I mean sure, I have kept it free of strife.

As a kid, I would count this as fulfilled,

Now I feel like a part of me is killed.

For when I look back, no memories do greet.

Because I was the game, that life had beat.

 

On reality, I had lost my grip!

My life had packed up and gave me the slip!

In hindsight, I cannot help but to mourn.

For my life that from myself I had torn.

So please, my friends, I do beg this of you:

Before Death shows up and your time is due,

Fulfill your life until you are all set.

Don’t end up like me, filled up with regret.