Inspired by image 2.16, “Elf-Rib”
Elf-Rib
Proud king,
denier of the cross,
dies unbaptized.
Pagan king
in death reborn
a demon.
Skeleton King
dwells in ditches, wails from the water
snatches children who walk outside.
Victors tell the story,
raise their own glory–
even the mighty fall.
Proud king,
pagan king,
skeleton and bogeyman—
children, heed this well,
listen to authorities, or
you will end in hell.
Paul Brookes is hosting a month-long ekphrastic challenge using folklore images to celebrate the launch of his new poetry collection, “As Folktaleteller.” You can see the images here and also read the other responses. I’ve revised this some from the poem posted there.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
I’m not trick-or-treating in your neck of the woods! Lol.
Hahahaha.
Thank you for reading, but–these images/folklore come from all over . . .😱
I tried my hand at one. Not my usual silly writing so it definitely was a challenge!
Which one did you do? I’ll have to go back and read it.
The one that looked like a nun
Found it! I
Reblogged this on The Wombwell Rainbow.
Thank you, Paul.
This was a difficult one for me. I like how you handled it, how are the mighty fallen, indeed!
Thank you. It didn’t know the legend, but when I read about it, this was how I saw it.
It made me think of what you’ve said about the Irish myths and Christianity.
I can’t believe that ancient people huddled around the fire terrifying one another. Life must have been full of terror and hardship without adding to it at bedtime! Fear is a classic tool for organisations that want to control and dominate.
But even ancient people have tales of scary things–but I think they’re still tales of warning.
And yes, fear is tool used to control.
Yes, they did, but I wonder did they have stories that were only about some evil creature that would do something nasty to you if you didn’t do such and such? Or were they like Beowulf and the Scandinavian stories, where a monster is defeated by a hero?
Who knows? When my older child was about two, they were afraid to go onto our enclosed porch and said “shadows hurting you.” Maybe that fear is hard-wired in our brains.
Fear of the dark, certainly. It’s logical at least.
Yes, it makes sense.
This one gave me that someone-just-walked-over-my-grave feeling. *shiver*
I guess it the poem worked then! 😏
It certainly did!
I promise you I will be catching up. Well, I will try! Figured I’d go backwards from here 😉
And you have captured quite the spirit with this one! Scary business!
Thank you so much.
It’s hard to keep up. I didn’t respond to dVerse at all last week because I knew I didn’t have time to read.
I haven’t written anything in ages! Besides one little WWP but still.
I think you’ve been a bit busy! I hope your new job and renovation are going well.
I have. Too busy! The job is good. Great group. The renos are chugging along. I’m hoping at this point, it will start showing more and more!
Start showing–as in you can see the changes?
Right! Electrical and floor prep and such don’t show as stuff done!
Got it!
I like this a lot, Merril: how you merge the pared-down haiku style with something more lyrical – a frightening delight!
Thank you so much, Ingrid.
😊
Enjoyable fun
Thank you.
We construct our own hell and then place the blame somewhere else…(K)
Yes, exactly.