As a child I was told endless tale tales by adults. Tales of questionable feats and acts of daring-do. Sometimes these tales were designed to either scare me unnecessarily, or encourage some degree of modification in my behavior. I was told to watch out for elephants who enjoyed squashing badly behaved children and to be afraid of going near the creek because crocodiles lived there -when in fact nothing remotely life threatening lived in the local waterways.
I further recall being told that green jelly was made from cow's hooves and that swallowing chewing gum could kill you. It would stick to your heart and you would die! It's amazing how such nonsensical stories stay with you. Well, I'm not too sure what the inspiration for this piece of contrived nonsense actually was, apart from a desire to have a bit of fun.
You might consider some of the slightly doubtful things adults told you in order to get you to cooperate, or merely to scare you into complying with their wishes. Maybe, you could write your own version of events as an alternative poetic legend...
Anyway, it was a hoot to write. These days whenever I eat spinach I chuckle inwardly, entertained by wicked thoughts of spinach gatherers.
Let's not forget- Poets need to have a laugh...
Where Spinach Comes From
Not many people are aware of this,
-spinach grows between the toes
of huge green witches
who live in far away Greenland
Courageous spinach gatherers
wander endlessly in search of these wild witchy women
Who lurk in the remotest mountains
The intrepid spinach gatherers creep cautiously
Sneaking across the snow
Tiptoeing over ice flows
Patiently waiting for the huge green witches
to nod off to sleep
Snoring is the signal
The moment when the fearless spinach gatherers
unsheathe their trusty shears
and begin clipping and shaving
Clipping and shaving
The toes of those smelly green witches
-And that’s where spinach comes from.
Not many people are aware of that
Just thought I’d share that information with you
Alan j Wright
 |
| My impression of a spinach gatherer |
Eeeurgh! I love spinach!! Hoping I can forget your poem, real quick! ;) Funny you should post about these sorts of things, because I grew up with the Burnett Bunyip and was reflecting on that for a poem earlier in the week. But in writing that, I was also remembering the stories my dad was told as a lad, about the dip bunyip - who preyed on children who strayed too close to the cattle dip...
ReplyDeleteI also enjoy spinach Kat. I use it in so many meals, salads, so I try not to think too much about its possible origins. I like your Dad's story regarding the dip bunyip. Our parents are responsible for a lot of unnecessary childhood trauma. It's surprising how well we turned out...
DeleteI love spinach too, but don't want to forget your poem, it's such fun–still smiling from it. What a wonderful escape you've penned for us. (from all the horrible shenanigans of our US President). I think it would be good as a picture book, and the brave "spinach gatherer" art fits so well–love it, thanks Alan!
ReplyDeleteAnything Michelle, to help distract from the antics of he who shall not be named. You have given me food for thought regarding the potential of this piece as a picture story book. My mind has been speculating on how I would modify and expand the premise. Thanks for the spark. Glad you liked my gatherer illustration too. I don't do too much in this area. I'm far more comfortable with words than pictures, but i had fun with this one...
DeleteWhat a hoot, Alan! Your poem was one that middle school children would totally enjoy. I wonder what other bizarre tales you can conjure up for us that delight our senses and imagination.
ReplyDeleteThanks Carol. There's a book of poems I have in my collection titled, 'My Mind Is Full Of Horrid Things.' I might have to fish it out and see what it inspires.
DeleteLove the sketch of those intrepid gatherers. I may never eat spinach without remembering, Alan. I do remember some stories like eyes will stay staring if one stares too much, eyes injured watching too much tv, but a friend who is Norwegian has told me the scariest that she said she was told about gnomes ready to kidnap children if they went out in the dark. To this day she claims that she's a bit leary of the dark. Love that snoring part!
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked the sketch. It is rare for me to share my drawings. I am very much a novice, but it is important to remain brave. There seems to be a lot of superstitions and myths regarding eyes- and across various cultures too. I think of the evil eye ornaments in Europe. We were warned our eyes would go square from protracted viewing of the television. That was a favourite of my Dad's.
DeleteToo funny! I will be thinking about the spinach gatherers every time I eat spinach! When I was a little girl, my grandmother always told me swallowing gum caused intestinal blockages!
ReplyDeleteAh, the old swallow the chewing gum myth Carol. So many of us were were told this little piece of nonsense. One version was that it would stick to your heart and you would die. No regard to the anatomical inaccuracy of that statement, but it certainly scared us. Glad you had a laugh. Long live the spinach gatherers!
Delete