Fairytale Poem Challenge

[PandoraGlitters]

In the spirit of this poem by Olga Broumas or perhaps this poem by Anne Sexton, I challenge you to write a retelling of an old tale as a poem. Perhaps it will lend new characterization to an old archetype or perhaps it will slant the story so we see it from a new angle. Whatever you do, have fun with it and see what happens.

 

[UnderYourSpell]

Just marking a place

 

[Angeline]

In the spirit of this poem by Olga Broumas or perhaps this poem by Anne Sexton, I challenge you to write a retelling of an old tale as a poem. Perhaps it will lend new characterization to an old archetype or perhaps it will slant the story so we see it from a new angle. Whatever you do, have fun with it and see what happens.

I've been working on a chapbook of fairytale poems for years now. Here's a few:

Fairy Tale

His Shadow Speaks

Matchless

The Snow Queen

The Nighingale

Tin Soldier

I've had a few other fairy tales on my mind for a long time now, trying to figure out how to approach them. Maybe with your challenge I'll finally get em written.

 

[CharleyH]

In the spirit of this poem by Olga Broumas or perhaps this poem by Anne Sexton, I challenge you to write a retelling of an old tale as a poem. Perhaps it will lend new characterization to an old archetype or perhaps it will slant the story so we see it from a new angle. Whatever you do, have fun with it and see what happens.

Adore fairy tales! What's the deadline?

 

[CharleyH]

I've been working on a chapbook of fairytale poems for years now. Here's a few:

Fairy Tale

His Shadow Speaks

Matchless

The Snow Queen

The Nighingale

Tin Soldier

I've had a few other fairy tales on my mind for a long time now, trying to figure out how to approach them. Maybe with your challenge I'll finally get em written.

As for you, after these links, you know that if you visit us you will never get out of here without a swing!

Pandora? Can we use ethnic fairy tale structures (as in not English structures?)

 

[bflagsst]

This is the center of the universe for western folklore: http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/folktexts.html

It has every tale you've ever heard organized by archetypes and themes. example:

Animal Brides. Folktales of type 402.

1. Chonguita the Monkey Wife (Philippines).
2. The Frog Maiden (Burma).
3. The Dog Bride (India).
4. The Cat Who Became a Queen (India).
5. The Mouse Maiden (Sri Lanka).
6. The Prince and the Tortoise (1001 Nights).
7. The Frog's Skin (Georgia).
8. The Tsarevna Frog (Russia).
9. The Frog (Austria/Italy).
10. The Frog's Bridegroom (Germany).
11. Doll i' the Grass (Norway).
12. The She-Wolf (Croatia).
13. Links to additional tales of type 402.

 

[butters]

brilliant, bflagsst. i was browsing just now looking for possibles to plunder.

 

[Remec]

In the spirit of this poem by Olga Broumas or perhaps this poem by Anne Sexton, I challenge you to write a retelling of an old tale as a poem. Perhaps it will lend new characterization to an old archetype or perhaps it will slant the story so we see it from a new angle. Whatever you do, have fun with it and see what happens.

Intriguing.

I will have to see what I can come up with. In the meantime, I will leave you with this and this as earlier attempts.

 

[Angeline]

The Ugly Duckling

On the other side
of the mirror beauty
does not conform to one color
or curve. The blackest night
wears stars like diamonds
strewn on velvet. The chill
pallor of marble holds poetry
enscribed in veins of gray.
Weeds are sunny buttercups
sometimes or delicate threads
of Queen Anne's Lace.

Sister never saw beyond
her freckles. She scrubbed at them
with Porcelana, and how many
times have I measured the bump
on my nose, at once proud
of its ethnic proclamation
and horrified at how clearly
it announces me,
a daughter of Jerusalem,
before I ever speak a word?

But these are the trivial
contradictions of surfaces,
beauty judged far from the bone.
Every ugly duckling is a swan
about to become,
and even flowerless weeds
are blessed with the green
of youth. Sister was beautiful,
my bumpy lumpy heart
is just right for me and you,
and the only true ugliness
can never be seen with eyes,
no matter how vivid
its expression.

 

[PandoraGlitters]

I've been working on a chapbook of fairytale poems for years now. Here's a few:

Fairy Tale

His Shadow Speaks

Matchless

The Snow Queen

The Nighingale

Tin Soldier

I've had a few other fairy tales on my mind for a long time now, trying to figure out how to approach them. Maybe with your challenge I'll finally get em written.

I confess I was sort of thinking of your red riding hood avatar when I posed the challenge.

 

[PandoraGlitters]

Adore fairy tales! What's the deadline?

Deadline is May 24. For what, I'm not really sure, but I'll respond to everything I read between now and then.

 

[PandoraGlitters]

Pandora? Can we use ethnic fairy tale structures (as in not English structures?)

Absolutely!

 

[PandoraGlitters]

This is the center of the universe for western folklore: http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/folktexts.html

It has every tale you've ever heard organized by archetypes and themes. example:

Animal Brides. Folktales of type 402.

1. Chonguita the Monkey Wife (Philippines).
2. The Frog Maiden (Burma).
3. The Dog Bride (India).
4. The Cat Who Became a Queen (India).
5. The Mouse Maiden (Sri Lanka).
6. The Prince and the Tortoise (1001 Nights).
7. The Frog's Skin (Georgia).
8. The Tsarevna Frog (Russia).
9. The Frog (Austria/Italy).
10. The Frog's Bridegroom (Germany).
11. Doll i' the Grass (Norway).
12. The She-Wolf (Croatia).
13. Links to additional tales of type 402.

Fabulous, bflagsst. This was super helpful.

 

[Angeline]

I confess I was sort of thinking of your red riding hood avatar when I posed the challenge.

Hah! I'll have to bring her back, just for you. Um when I finally get my pc hooked up. I don't have any av pics on my laptop hard drive. But I'm making progress--I think we only have around three boxes left to unpack.

Anyway thank you for the challenge. I've been wanting to write that ugly duckling poem for a long time, and you provided the inspiration I needed.

 

[EroticOrogeny]

Looks like a lot of material for inspiration here!

 

[PandoraGlitters]

Intriguing.

I will have to see what I can come up with. In the meantime, I will leave you with this and this as earlier attempts.

I liked the last bit about the fur lining for her hood. I wonder how it would be to write from the perspective of someone in a fairy tale. Maybe that's what I'll try. Bet that coat was warm. Look forward to reading what you come up with here.

 

[PandoraGlitters]

Angeline, "beauty judged far from the bone. " Just . . . Wow. Thank you. I love that poem.

 

[butters]

oh crap, i feel all intimidated

but i've begun working on mine.
and it's NOT a live write! for a change

 

[UnderYourSpell]

I've written mine in my head now got to try and remember it

 

[UnderYourSpell]

Thrice upon a time in one enchanted evening,
there lived a princess
neither beautiful or blonde,
more a dark brown, cropped and gelled.
Not in the least interested in daddy's choice
of worthy knights exhausted from the fray,
Cynthia (Cyn to her friends) was well
into Manhattan dating,
each night a different name
a sexier game.
Not adverse to a rumble in the forest
with Big Bad, so aptly named,
or a folderol with Troll often eating her
under the bridge
much to the joy of Billy Goat Gruff
trippity-trop, trippity-tropping
over the railings into the stream.
Enchanted frog princes stayed well away
after the unfortunate incident
of 'lightly sautéed in garlic butter.'

Came the day Cyn, to provide an heir,
married her crown prince
and happily sent him away
on many a knightly quest,
whilst cougaring down with the three little pigs,
who always did everything together.

 

[butters]

hahaha! *applauding Annie's saucy princess*

 

[Angeline]

Thrice upon a time in one enchanted evening,
there lived a princess
neither beautiful or blonde,
more a dark brown, cropped and gelled.
Not in the least interested in daddy's choice
of worthy knights exhausted from the fray,
Cynthia (Cyn to her friends) was well
into Manhattan dating,
each night a different name
a sexier game.
Not adverse to a rumble in the forest
with Big Bad, so aptly named,
or a folderol with Troll often eating her
under the bridge
much to the joy of Billy Goat Gruff
trippity-trop, trippity-tropping
over the railings into the stream.
Enchanted frog princes stayed well away
after the unfortunate incident
of 'lightly sautéed in garlic butter.'

Came the day Cyn, to provide an heir,
married her crown prince
and happily sent him away
on many a knightly quest,
whilst cougaring down with the three little pigs,
who always did everything together.

You're brilliant you modest little thing. Your poem is funny and saucy and clever--love it!

 

[UnderYourSpell]

Thank you ladies lol

 

[Tzara]

Sorry. Moved that poem that formerly was here elsewhere. I have, though, done fairy tales before, like Cinderella Disappointed.

Does that work?






I did write a new poem. I did. I did.

 

[Palba_Noruda]

In the spirit of this poem by Olga Broumas or perhaps this poem by Anne Sexton, I challenge you to write a retelling of an old tale as a poem. Perhaps it will lend new characterization to an old archetype or perhaps it will slant the story so we see it from a new angle. Whatever you do, have fun with it and see what happens.

Good idea, PG. I like that Anne Sexton one. I like all the similes. I'm gonna give it a whirl.