Black Forest

Gold cherry
Poem of the week

By agnosticnun

Sun, 24 May 2020
  • 2717 reads
12 comments
 

There used to be stories in this wood,

this malachite forest scented with wet earth 

where wolves hunted and grandmothers 

did grandmotherly things in cottages and

the trails were spattered with maidens.

 

These rocks the Grimms knew

were once a tower a hunter climbed,

a wall with a dragon behind,

a cavernous maw. 

Children wandered and were lost.

Songbirds ate the bread. Vultures saw.

 

In another era trains whistled, 

boxcars laden. Soldiers crouched and 

wolves had human hands.

Grandmothers wept on paths spattered

with children. Maidens slept

and did not wake.

 

Now chainsaws roar at the edges,

wet sawdust the scent. Trails 

are laden with businessmen

and barking dogs. Sitting on a log,

a girl reads stories.

 

Picture (c) the author, taken on a trip to Germany while hiking the Black Forest area.

Certificate U
Poem
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)

Comments

Submitted by h jenkins on

I do like this a lot. Very atmospheric, like the Black Forest itself.

Helvigo Jenkins

Helvigo Jenkins

Submitted by agnosticnun on

Thanks, I am glad you enjoyed it!

Kristi

Submitted by onemorething on

This is a wonderfully well written sensory amble into the dark tales of the Black Forest. Loved it. Rachel :)

 

Submitted by littleditty on

I love the idea of the Malachite forest...reminded me of Angela Carter - the ending so stark and a tender image, the stories laced before, 'when wolves had human hands -shivers - 'Grandmothers wept, and 'a girl reads stories... a lovely poem on storytelling - very moving, delicately spun, reminds me of my grandmothers - super!

 

Submitted by agnosticnun on

Thank you - flattered by the mention of Angela Carter! It really is a beautiful forest, though, not nearly so dark as the stories. And then you round a corner and see some stones that used to be a wall and wonder what happened there...

Kristi

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Effective descriptions, describing  mysteries of this Great forest, which you bring to life with your poem.

If the forest could speak, what tales it would tell.

Thank you for sharing.

Jenny. 

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

This fabulous poem is less a chocolate/cherry sweet concoction and more a wander into a folk nightmare.  It's our facebook and twitter pick of the day - do share it!

Submitted by celticman on

before and after, chainsaws, worse than ogres? 

 

Submitted by agnosticnun on

Well - yes, if you're a tree!

Kristi

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

The contrast between the grimness of the fairy stories and the beauty of the forest that inspired them is skilfully expressed and very effective. The poem is truly worthy of the golden cherries. Well done.

Luigi x

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

This is our Poem of the Week - Congratulations!

 

Submitted by Stephen Thom on

Wonderful poem, great idea and beautifully executed