Snow White

Fairy Tales

Curling my fingers together, tucking them over my breasts,  
they packed me under flowers, warm and breathing.  
Softly, quietly I lay, waiting for stalks to whither,
petals to fade.

I watched the stars from my crystal cradle
until the night guard extinguished his candle,
and one by one they flickered away
from the fury of dawn’s lantern.

They bowed around my silk wrapped feet
whispering German prayers.   
They sprinkled sapphires and onyx in my hair,
lay unbitten apples at my side.

I dream, of red cloaks and laughing
cheeks, roses without thorns.
I wondered at dancing bears
and a midnight waltz.

I watched the moon idle through the clouds
and trees turn grey until warm breath
parted my stale lips, pressing the
tingle of life beneath my brittle skin.

Drawn from my diamond cot
snow biting my cheeks,
I looked in his lustful eyes and thought
“I do not love you."

Reviews

[Cyprian Van Dyke]

Lovely words painted great imagery in this poesy of yours. I find snow white to be one of the fun characters to write about. You've done a magnificent art. You really created that animated vibe. Tyfs!

[Chip Murison]

I really enjoyed this.
The imagery is wonderfully dark like German fairy-tales are. The twist at the end so honest and real like breaking out of the fairy-tale. How can a lusty prince compare to dancing bears. :-)
Well done!

[barleygirl]

WOW! WOW! And WOW! This is off the charts with originality! I never expected to read something named "Snow White" that didn't have a HINT of the familiar, not a BIT of cliché, & totally imaginative as you fill in the blanks of this simplistic fairy tale. The first stanza blew my mind, especially considering how much you must've stretched your mind to think of sharing Snow White's viewpoint as she was lying there . . . "waiting for stalks to wither, petals to fade." Your descriptions literally sing with vivid imagery & unusual word choices. And of course, the ending is again so surprisingly imaginative & honest. This one really came out of the blue. I may be a good writer, but I would kill to have this much imagination, thinking outside the dots, & coming up with something so unexpected from something so familiar!

[CourtniRenee]

Thank you so much! I've read before that some coma patients are fully aware of what is happening around them while they are comatose, and I wondered if Snow White would have that same effect. What would the world be like if all you could do is lay back and watch, never interact. I thought she would see things in different ways, would want tot experience something despite the fact that she only has access to half her senses. Thank you so much for taking the time to review and share your thoughts! It means a lot to me.

[barleygirl]

That is true creativity . . . thinking of coma patients & Snow White together, then coming up with this kind of original poem.

[Corinn Bennett]

This is very well done. I love it.

Works inspired by fairy tales, fables and myths are something of an obsession for me. Though we certainly don't live within the mold of nineteenth century German society, such stories have always served as something to embody and aspire to. It is so interesting to see each unique interpretation. Yours runs so contrary to the traditional happy ending. I would love to see this twist explored.

The imagery you spun with so few words sets a listless and whimsical tone, something that definitely lends to the ambiance of dreaming and waiting. Yet there is a sense of wrongness about the narration. Those around Snow White pay homage to an image and not to the individual trapped within. And when the last stanza draws to a close, we are confronted with a very sobering realization of a self-seeking hero and a not so willing sacrifice. Very well done.

Thank you for the read!

[CourtniRenee]

I love fairy tales too, I have copies of Grimm's Tales and Hans Christian Anderson both, and I always loved reading re-imagined translations. I really appreciate your review and the kind thoughts. Snow White was always a favorite of mine, although her story seemed so distant from the character, almost to the point where she feels left behind. I really liked the idea of telling things from her point of view.

[EvaThornburn]

Nice write, Enjoyed. Thanks, for sharing. Look forward to reading more writes from you. Eva

[CourtniRenee]

Thank you!

[EvaThornburn]

Your Welcome