to open the ramshackle gate
and enter a shadowy place
where gems masquerade
as pebbles and bones;
disturb the sleep
of a petrified gnome;
dig up burly clods of mud
that turn into unblinking toadstones?
Do you dare to feed them with earth-bound
worms that squirm with spells cast in sifted loam;
to purse your lips for just one kiss?
Kim M. Russell, 2017
For the past couple of weeks I have been writing poems with The Poetry School online course entitled ‘Re-make Believe: Shaping the Fairytale’. We still have some weeks to go, but this is the first poem I produced, which has been edited several times, about entering the world of Faerie. I thought I’d link it up to dVerse Poets Pub Open Link Night to gauge reactions.
writing in north norfolk 
I probably would dare 😉 such a wonderfully crafted poem, Kim!❤️
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Thank you, Sanaa!
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Yup. I’m in.
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even puckering up to kiss the toad? 🙂
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Of course. 😉
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I find toads quite sweet actually.. but would it turn to a princess for me?
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Good question!
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This made me think of the verdigris frog that sat on my garden wall for years. He was symbolic, and his name was Frog, formerly known as Prince! When I moved, I left him there, sitting alone on weathered wood … just as he deserved! Great poem, and thanks for sending me on a memory trip!
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Thanks Bev! I love the name Frog, formerly known as Prince!
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You have awakened my curiousity enough with your poem to explore Kim :o) xxx
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I would certainly want to explore the world of Faerie, Kim, toads and all…maybe even a kiss.
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🙂
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Don’t talk to me about toads.
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I won’t ask!
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I don’t mind them in daylight, but they frighten me at night…
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What a great idea! Fairy tales are always brilliant to reimagine – an endless source of inspiration!
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I too think toads are rather sweet and often seem lonely. I liked this foray into the world of faerie! Well written.
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Excellent! 😎😎😎🥀🥀🥀
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Thank you, Dorna 😊💞🌹
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I love it! ……. and who can resist a dare?
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Not me!
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This is just so much fun! Love it.
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Thanks, Misky!
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Such fun. Love the darkness in here – the unblinking toadstools, ‘the gems masquerade / as pebbles and bones’. Fairy tales are as full of horror as they are of delight.
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Thank you, Peter! It has always been the darkness that draws me to fairy tales. 😊
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I like it…especially the toadstones….
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I’ve never seen one but they sound magical! Maybe I get them mixed up with lodestones… I used to imagine toads had eyes made of toad stones.
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I have a phobia of all things ‘ribbit’ – and thankfully you spoke more of pursed lips and NOT forked slimy tongues darting about.
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🙂
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This is great, Kim. I would give you an A+ in the class assignment. My cat recently stared down a frog for a good minute..it was so still, but when it jumped there was a chase on! The frog got away.
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Thank you, Kathy! We haven’t had any frogs, toads or newts this year – I think our cat Luna has scared them away.
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I’m a scaredy-cat, so I probably wouldn’t. 🙂 Interesting idea, Kim.
It made me think of a children’s picture book we read to our kids with the refrain would you dare, I think.
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😊
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I don’t think I’d dare.. so dark and slimy, not even for the possibility of the Prince
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Trump Toad Lips
Disgrace now
to Amphibian
Lore.. Toad Trump
JUmps
aWay
from Dark
Scum Pond
oF Fear and Hate
DRaining the SWamp
with lips that never feel..
Other than that Hi Kim a little
more human cLOck time today
just
breezing
by away
from COld
OranGe Winds..;)
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😊
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Kind of Spooky. I like it a lot.
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Thanks Sean!
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