Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.)
First up, I’m over at Lydia Lukidis’ Blissfully Bookish with a post about my newest picture book, Clover Kitty Goes to Kittygarten–and there’s a giveaway (ends today)! Please stop by if you have a chance!
Sometime in the last month or so, I answered a poetry friend with some connection to fairy tales, and I mentioned I had a ya/adult poem about Cinderella. Alas, it’s all foggy in my memory. But…I’m finally remembering to at least share the poem! Maybe someone will remind me why–haha! Anyway, I wrote this years ago:
Obsession
by Prince Charming
I thought the glass shoe
was just a quirk
It got my attention
Certainly
And had all the kingdom talking
But my wife really harbors an unhealthy passion for shoes
Slippers, mules, pumps, boots
Velvet, leather, fur, tapestry
She whispers the words in her sleep
gentle
terrifying
She would rather shoe-shop than
Dine with me
What is food compared to the sleek sweetness of a perfect heel?
She would rather shoe-shop than
Play with our children
What is laughter compared to the metric knocking of heels on slate floors?
She would rather shoe-shop than
Breathe
What is life without the right shoes to live it?
I have found her
Reclining on our closet’s stone floor
Ruining her silk gown
Eyes glazed, admiring
Towers of soles and heels looming overhead
And I wonder:
How many pairs of shoes does it take to make a princess happy?
–Laura Purdie Salas, all rights reserved
And for lots of wonderful poetry, don’t miss the Poetry Friday Roundup with poet-educator Margaret Simon, who always has wonderful things to share.
23 Responses
Well THAT certainly sheds some new light on Cinderella! LOL!!!
Hehe:>)
Love the humor! It reminds of my mother who had 40 or more pairs of shoes and that’s not counting her boots or slippers.
Wow, how did she keep track of them? I admire cute shoes on others, but I can’t work up the excitement to put the time and $ into a beautiful collection. Plus…wide feet. So I now go more for comfort!
I guess the answer is, “A lot.” I guess it speaks to what we learn about our spouses after we marry them?
Haha–yep, a lot is pry accurate enough. You know, it’s funny, but my husband Randy actually used to basically collect Converse shoes. He wasn’t as obsessed as Cinderella, but I’m trying to remember now if he was doing that yet when I wrote this poem. Maybe it’s more real life than I thought!
I love it when you show us your snarky side!
Thanks, Margaret!
That last line is sharp, Laura. Your poem makes me want to go back and read Anne Sexton’s Cinderella poem.
Aw, thanks, Laura. And…wow! I did not know the Sexton poem. How dark and delightfully observant. I love it!
LOL! That Cinderella has gone all fickle on the poor prince. I love playing with fairy tales. So much fun. Great laugh with this one.
Thanks, Linda:>)
Your poem gives a different point of view where the princess is presented as an Imelda Marcos type character. Cleverly conceived and presented Laura. I could see this provoking older students to assume new viewpoints on classic stories somewhat like ‘The True Story of The Three Little Pigs’ by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith. Impressive!
Your poem gives a different point of view where the princess is presented as an Imelda Marcos type character. Cleverly conceived and presented Laura. I could see this provoking older students to assume new viewpoints on classic stories somewhat like ‘The True Story of The Three Little Pigs’ by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith. Impressive!
Your poem gives a different point of view where the princess is presented as an Imelda Marcos type character. Cleverly conceived and presented Laura. I could see this provoking older students to assume new viewpoints on classic stories somewhat like ‘The True Story of The Three Little Pigs’ by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith. Impressive!
Your poem gives a different point of view where the princess is presented as an Imelda Marcos type character. Cleverly conceived and presented Laura. I could see this provoking older students to assume new viewpoints on classic stories somewhat like ‘The True Story of The Three Little Pigs’ by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith. Impressive!
Thanks, Alan–and exactly. I think fairy tales are so fun to twist. Have to make sure every student is familiar with the tale, as there are so many cultural variations :>)
Oh, poor Cinderella — so consumerist, so not focused on the meaningful things of life. There are never enough soles to fill the soul! Your poem is a delight with a shadowy, haunting edge … obsession is a dark mirror (heaven help, me, now I am invoking Snow White). I loved every word, Laura.
Hahaha–thank you, Fran!
Fun and deeply layered poem Laura– I love a twist in stories we know so well, makes you think and question other things too–and thinking is good. Thanks for sharing it with us, xo
Thanks, Michelle. Interesting to read a poem I wrote years ago–I might write it differently today…
Hi fairy tale revisionist! I remember re-writing a f.t. for a class ~~ maybe that was your inspiration. I too, thought of Mrs. I. Marcos. I also wonder about how many pairs of boots a fancy-dancy, ball-attending prince, owns.
Haha–good question!