NaPM, April 28, 2020

[Quixilated]

Only 3 to go!     

Rules: Write a poem for national poetry month on the topic or form described. Each poem should appear as a separate reply to this thread. The goal is to, at the end of the month, have written 30 poems for National Poetry Month.


Topic: Write a poem inspired by a fairy tale. 

I was saving this one for my birthday because it is my favorite topic.   

Form: any
Line requirements: 8 lines or more

[Todd]

Straw, Sticks, and Bricks

If there are three sons,
only the youngest
will receive the golden goose.
If there are three pigs,
the first two will be
breakfast and lunch,
and the last indigestion.
Fools might build
with straw and sticks.
Hard work might turn away
old Huff and Puff,
but that is not the lesson.
No one wants
to be a cautionary tale,
or to find sharp teeth
in grandmother’s bed.
This world is wolves
and empty stomachs
and howling in the dark forest.
They do not always knock.


~~


Happy Birthday, Quix!

[Keith]

Born with a pen between her teeth

They found you outside the convent
on Easter Sunday, left inside a bonnet
lined with newspaper and blankets,
no note, just the misgivings of shame.
They nick-named you Cindy Elle
and took you inside Our Lady of Mercy,
gave you a cot in the old cellar.

Of course over the years you grew.
No book could tame your wild horse
you where taught to abstain but fought
with the elements of nature, always dreamed
to be more than you seemed, to write
your name on a fading sky, they all knew
how hard you would try. No room
for a Princes stare or to let one climb your hair.

But tonight on this cold stone floor
you sweep for the sisters once more
as poetry and prose, blows in from outside
and Bluebirds fold their bed linen, you decide
to find yourself a Mother or a long lost brother.
You'll write them in to being, give them space
to shatter glass ask of them a jaded past
where evil always tries to prevail, and
even the mice have furry tails.

[dukealien]

Her All-seeing Servant


I hang at this story’s center,
never moving, never starting
anything.  I only answer
questions put to me (though every
query is identical) to
which each time I answer with
a strict and perfect truth.

In this, I’m like what embodies
me: a common mirror hanging
in my mistress’ chamber which
displays true pictures of what stands
before me and could also tell her
all that passes in her kingdom.

If she asked another question–
am I just, or kindest, or
most loveable–  I’d have to tell her
but my mistress’ only question
to me is if she’s the fairest
and I tell her, to her sorrow,
rooting envy in her soul.

For I am, of course, a Demon
trapped, she thinks, to do her bidding,
driving her to poison her
step-daughter of the white complexion
little knowing that it leads to
red-hot shoes, a foretaste of
the measures we shall dance in Hell.

"Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" from a different point of view,  Brothers Grimm version.

[Todd]

I like the poems today. All fun to read.

[Keith]

I like the poems today. All fun to read.

Yes me too, Happy birpday Quix

[Quixilated]

The poems today were wonderful! I love this particular prompt and you all answered it beautifully. Thank you for the birthday wishes (I’m turning somewhere between 1,000 and immortal, so it was a bit rough going psychologically). Only two more days to go!