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Monday, February 17, 2014

Monday Poetry Stretch - Fairy Tale Props

I've been re-reading my well-worn copy of is The Poets' Grimm: 20th Century Poems from Grimm's Fairy Tales, edited by Jeanne Marie Beaumont & Claudia Carlson. I love this book because I'm particularly fond of poetry that reimagines fairy tales.

While reading through some of these poems I started thinking a bit about fairy tale poetry. We've actually written quite a bit about the stories and characters for stretches, but never really about some of the more memorable items, like the magic mirror, magic beans, a poisoned apple, red cape, golden ball, spinning wheel, and more.

So, let's write about a magical or fairy tale item, one of those things you can't imagine a story without. Please share a link to your poem or the poem itself in the comments.

7 comments:

  1. Shoes

    1.
    When Snow White’s stepmother came to the wedding feast
    they made her dance in iron shoes that were red hot
    till her feet were ashes, her life was ash. And what better fate
    for a woman whose heart was poisoned like an apple?

    2.
    Once there was a princess of Romania who married
    an enchanted pig. Then she betrayed her husband
    by tying a thread on his foot when he came unseen
    by night. She traveled far and far to find him,
    wearing out three pairs of iron shoes and daring
    the houses of the Moon, the Sun and the Wind.
    At last she cut off her little finger to finish
    a ladder of bones and win him back.

    Witches, that fingerbone, the iron shoes—
    what was a wife to do, but go and fetch the man
    and bring him home? After, when she looked at him
    by night, holding the candle high, neither
    condemned the other, but only lay down
    to breathe together with long, good peace.

    3.
    Twelve pairs of dancing shoes, the most beautiful
    the royal cobbler had ever made, satins in pure reds
    and blues and green, slippers bedecked with gold,
    with emeralds and rubies. He bowed very low,
    presenting them to the princesses, who were nearly
    as pretty as the shoes, royal maidens like roses
    in shining vases. That was the first time. But soon
    the cobbler’s smiles turned to frowns. Later
    (it must be confessed) he made the shoes less well.
    Oh, they were still serviceable, but not as fancy.
    He began using second-rate satin and glass
    instead of gems. It’s just that is broke his heart
    to see the shoes come back the very next day
    in tatters, their jewels lost or hanging from threads.
    If the king noticed, he never said a word.

    4.
    Then there were the glass slippers. Cinderella danced
    in them, in fact she waltzed. They did not break,
    being made of magic, but the day came when one of them
    at least was filled with blood, first from a sister’s toes
    and then from a sister’s heels. Did Cinderella wipe it out
    with a handkerchief from her pocket, or maybe a dish rag?
    Then slide it on to match it to its mate? And did he care
    about the blood, or the glass, this nearsighted man
    who finally recognized the girl when her shoes were on?
    An absent-minded sort, but a good enough husband,
    after all the business of the shoes was over.
    I’ve heard that once they were married they used to waltz
    in the garden. Always at midnight. And always barefoot.

    —Kate Coombs, 2014,
    all rights reserved

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow. Who could follow that? Thanks for sharing those, Kate Coombs! Brilliant.

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  3. Goodness, Kate, that's intense. That really drew me in. Here's mine:

    Bridge Troll

    I’m crass. I’m cross.
    Don’t sass me, kid.
    You won’t pass me by
    Like those billy goats did.

    I’m stubborn. I’m stern.
    Best turn yourself around,
    Or you’ll learn a thing or two
    When I put you underground.

    I’m champ. I’m cheap.
    And I keeps what I owns.
    Now run away, kid,
    Or I’ll gobble your bones!

    © 2014 Steven Withrow, all rights reserved

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks, Rosi! Nice, Steven--such a distinct, strong personality your troll has!

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  5. Do you have Disenchantments, Tricia? I have it, but I confess I haven't read most of it yet. Also, have you seen this: http://www.littlebirdpublishinghouse.com/anthology-submissions.html I'm submitting a few poems I have on hand that were supposed to turn into a ya fairy tale collection, but haven't yet. My younger fairy tale collection never sold, and I lost the impetus:>(

    ReplyDelete
  6. Kate. That was OUTSTANDING! Steven, I admire your scribbles so much brother.

    THE WORD OF EVIL

    No matter what you’ve heard
    Please don’t say that word
    Those 15 letters of shame.
    If that name is uttered?
    Then you are to blame.
    If you take the bet?
    Welcome to regret.
    Don’t lift up the veil
    On this very grim tale
    Keep quiet you will win
    Over Rumpelstiltskin.
    Oops.

    (c) Charles Waters 2014 all rights reserved.

    ReplyDelete
  7. THE WORD OF EVIL
    No matter what you’ve heard
    Please don’t say that word
    Those 15 letters of shame.
    If that name is uttered?
    Then you are to blame.
    If you take the bet?
    Welcome to regret.
    Don’t lift up the veil
    On this very grim tale,
    Keep quiet you will win
    Over Rumpelstiltskin.
    Oops.

    (c) Charles Waters 2014 all rights reserved.

    ReplyDelete