Jack's mother reels at his moth-eaten squeals
His black eyes startle, cow to market not his plan
Uptakes his stick and prods the beast to wheel
And progress 'long the road 'til see a man
Dressed in pink and blue with funny hat so tall
Who smiles a sliding smile like reddest wine
Rosy words spill to ensnare Jack, he'll fall
For con-man's money worthless beans no shine
Angry mother couples words with action
Throws Jack and his beans on dung heap so foul
Morning finds him up a strange plant in sun
Guilt assails but ogre killed with a howl
Golden Goose Jack's happy song as down he dives
Landing feet first in foreign climes to thrive
Author notes
Option 2 - Sylvia Plath (after Cinderella)
Cinderella
The prince leans to the girl in scarlet heels,
Her green eyes slant, hair flaring in a fan
Of silver as the rondo slows; now reels
Begin on tilted violins to span
The whole revolving tall glass palace hall
Where guests slide gliding into light like wine;
Rose candles flicker on the lilac wall
Reflecting in a million flagons' shine,
And glided couples all in whirling trance
Follow holiday revel begun long since,
Until near twelve the strange girl all at once
Guilt-stricken halts, pales, clings to the prince
As amid the hectic music and cocktail talk
She hears the caustic ticking of the clock.
A contest entry
- Contest- Symbiosis by g r e y i s m.
875 points, ended December 20, 2008, 19 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
How was it for you?
Comments
1 - 6 of 6
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I like this. I was reading it just now, not even realizing it's a part of my contest!
Nice read, and nice choice.
~Lea -
It's not easy trying to emulate another poet - particularly one with whom many people are familiar (some of my poems on my "Homages to other poets and authors" list are parodies and emulations). This hopping, skipping sonnet makes me chuckle. I think you have pitched it very well.
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Do you know (oh, and thanks for the kind words) I didn't realise I was emulating/writing a sonnet. I shall now dash about to find a sonnet writing contest! LOL and so forth. Thanks again.
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Well dash about to find out about the English or Shakespearian sonnet first, then you will see the form that Sylvia was having such fun with. Or pop into my homages list and look up "Closing time at Laugharne" or "Maybe sara thought this..."
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WE "did" sonnets at my writing group but I am too lazy to:
1. remember the rules, 2. Write them anyway - I like to freewheel, 3. So the Plath pastiche was kind of imitative but unaware. Here we would say "What a prat!" -
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We'd understand the term here too!
Liking to freewheel is one thing - I like to freewheel, but also I have been quoted as saying "I have shown I can draw, now I'm entitled to pickle a shark and call it art".
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