An empty wife walked up a hill to find a crone at her ‘still’.
When she shared her hollow heart, the crone sang her this:
"I’ll give you no magic pill. This is all within your will.
The song I’ll now sing to you is your key to bliss!
By some avarice they say, a man disappeared one day
on a road his body ditched, beaten to a pulp!
Later on that wretched way came a shrew with heart of clay.
The horror that she beheld moved her soul to gulp.
Vulchers pecking at his head, she found this poor man half dead.
So, she washed his open wounds with her hair and tears!
From some cow-corn stalks and thread she tied up a make-shift sled,
then dragged him to her cottage, away from all fears.
In her home of wood and bricks, night and day she worked to fix
that broken battered body of this one she’d found.
With rum and licorice sticks, she conjured a healing mix
until her magic took hold, bringing him around.
One thing she could plainly see was he’d lost his memory.
He knew not a single thing of his life before.
Overcome with wistful glee, she decided on her fee
for bringing him back to life, nurturing his gore.
She told him, “Your life had been like a god among mere men,
of defeating enemies like no knight before.
You’ve won in the dragon’s den and been a king now and then.
But, our love had been undone by some devil’s whore.
To redeem your name and fame, and for all the love we claim,
you’ll need some big victory so I can forgive.”
He replied, “I’ve brought you shame, and even though I am lame,
without a redeeming quest, better I not live.”
She sent him off so gallantly to conquer back a small country.
Although it took a few years, he brought her a crown!
She gave up her ‘shewery’ and in all his bravery,
they lived on so happily. They had not a frown!”
When the crone and sung her song, the woman had got it wrong.
Home she went to see her man, wooden bat in hand.
When seeing him come along, she clobbered him oh so strong!
Then she laid him by a road, bleeding in the sand.
Later on that very day, tasting bliss not far away
she returned to play the shrew. But her man was gone!
So, wives please hear what I say. When you feel in disarray,
simply talk with him all night. Never wait ‘til dawn!!!
Author notes
“Crone” is simply a post-menopausal woman. At this time, in older societies, she becomes known as crone, a word whose original meaning is 'wise one', revered elder of the circle.
“Shrew” is a domineering manipulative woman.
“Corn-Stalks” is a ‘corny’ metaphor for abundance, growth and fertility.
“Thread” is a metaphor for binding together and strengthening commitments and relationships.
“Rum” symbolizes the need to let go of inhibitions and just express with no shame, as if a different person.
“Licorice” symbolizes the joys and special treats in life. It also represents indulgence, sensuality and/or forbidden pleasure.
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 16 of 16
-
hmmm
very nice and deep
loved it
and a good tale
a cautionary one
loved that
good luck and thank you for entering! -
-
but could you get it in a couple more contests?
part of the rules....
-
-
You are an awesome writer! I like how you put words below your poem and the meanings of them. I learned something from this. Thank you!
-
without your definitions, I could interpet the moral of your story. Now is all that is promised. 1 second later may not ever come. So think twice before anger seethes your soul, or else in life you will face a empty roll.
Keep up the good work.
Rose
-
That's funny. Very clever.
-
i really enjoyed the metaphor and the message that it gave. thank you for entering, and good luck!
-
Sometimes...
One does outsmart themselves... This is a very vivid and entertaining read. But then again I haven't read anything by you that I haven't liked. Your create a strong storyline and of course the moral. The glossary of metahors was also helpful. All together another great poem... Ithica
-
This is complex, and intricate. The story weaves itself through and around your conscience. The twist at the end is humourous and surprising, and the metaphors, magick, and transformations give this poem a lot of character. This was a joy to read!
-
Wow, this was a pleasure to read. I have never heard of these certain words to have these meanings that they do, I think it was interesting. Keep up the great work.
-
wow
what an amazing write my friend, MAASHAALAH YA HABIBI, well done brother, good work, and its quite confusing but well understood after you explain all that connects the traits together, i mean i love to read stories in a poetry form. KHALAS YA HABIB AL BALED, MAASHALAH.....ALAH YE BARICK FIICK YA ABOUEI....
-
Awsome
I love hearing stories in poetic form, your style is great, i love the morbid hint in yout writeing, alot like my own, I look forward to when i can read more of your writeing, and there always seems to be a moral of some sort. I have to go now, read more later
-
This was a wonderful piece. Full of imagery and verse and to top it all a lesson. Very well written I thouroughly enjoyed it and had to smile at the end. Loved the notes at the bottom too.
-
I loved your poem
I could visualize the whole thing play out before me like a show in the minds eye. Very enjoyable and would make for a very entertaining play.
-
-
We used it as a skit ...
I gave this poem to my wife as a gift ... and had the kids act out the parts as I read it. My boys loved the part where the husband gets ditched. My daughter played a wonderful shrew. It was a lot of fun and my wife loved it.
-
-
Interesting. I wanted to read the end first but what would be gained in skipping the middle. I enjoyed reading every word and thank you for the notes. I think there should be more licorice in life and a little more rum. This is so wonderfully written with smooth flowing words. Well done and good luck in the contest.
-
rum and licorice...
Ah yes... we all need more rum and licorice I think! Quite an interesting work poet! I enjoyed it a lot.
Good luck in the contest!
Adding your comment:
1 - 16 of 16
