8 Feb 2011

Tall Tale For Tuesday


 

Winter Warning

When the moon hides in the heavens, and witches walk abroad,
the silent silver branches' ghostly glim can't be ignored.

For outside, in the gardens, all is not quite what it seems,
though inside foursquare houses, sleepy people dream their dreams,

Jack Frost flies with chill abandon, his colours stark and bright,
as he adds his touch of magic throughout the livelong night.

Shadows stretch and spread their cloaks before his dancing feet,
then loom and roll towards him as he passes down the street.

The witches zoom in circles, partners in his crazy dance,
but he quells their manic laughter with a single, frosty glance.

Be sure you heed the warning, should you hear your Elders shout -
'Look out, look out, my children when Jack Frost is about!'


Thanks to Magpie Tales for the picture that gave rise to this flight of fancy!

30 comments:

  1. Ooooh! I like what you did to the prompt photo! That I liked the poem is no surprise. Well done.

    I participated in Magpie Tales for the first time this week. What fun!

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  2. Scary, full of the darkness of old fairytales Jinksy!

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  3. I love that! I had a little Jack Frost post the other day. Lately I am drawn to cartoons from the 30-50s. I don't know if you caught it but here is the link. It is fun to watch and compliments your piece nicely. http://www.livinginthemiddle.com/2011/02/youtube-video-player.html

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  4. Jack Frost was certainly about last night!

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  5. And a very nice fancy too my friend.

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  6. Witchy! I love what you did with the photo. The opening couplet is especially splendid!

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  7. I thought I saw you amongst the witches as they were whirling around the house last night. Was it you who left the rime on the grass?

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  8. Like Friko, I wonder what you were doing out there? Tess took the photo, Jack dropped the snow, so you must be.... eek!

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  9. Great take on the prompt! I like what you did with the photo to accompany your poem! I need to find my warm robe now!

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  10. This has the feeling of an old legend..and the reversal of colors in the photo is a brilliant touch!!

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  11. Look at what you've done! And nice write!

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  12. You changed the image acc.to your story.Nice work!

    Want a challenge?
    http://umaspoembook.blogspot.com/2011/02/experimenting-with-poetry-forms-senryu.html

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  13. Jinksy - brilliant! I loved loved loved the switch - to the more sinister left side and the positive to negative view of the picture. What a creation from a superbly clever mind - especially as it gave your poem a 'cool' place to go. ☼

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  14. Interesting, Lightverse!
    The ‘Negative’ effect gave a lighter image, I thought, therefore less sinister! And switching it from right to left gave a better balance for where the house appeared on my blogpage! LOL
    So not exactly a clever mind- merely an artist’s eye, and an oddball me who prefers light colours to dark... Just shows how different people see things differently, eh?!

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  15. great changing the photo as it worked so well with your poem!

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  16. Chilling! Like what you did with the image, too!

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  17. Jack Frost's a television detective, isn't he?

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  18. Aaaaaah! How chillingly warming this post! I love the reversals!

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  19. Ooohh...niiiicely played, Jinksy...
    Really adore those rhymes!!!

    Looks like Jack Frost is knocking on my window right now... But I am a good obedient girl... I shan't open that window to him...

    By the way, I really like how you mirrored the image, and used it in its negative form... You transformed day to night by doing so... AWESOME!!!

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  20. "silent silver branches' ghostly glim can't be ignored" - is probably my favorite line. I love the imagery. I also love what you did to the photo.

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  21. I know to expect the unexpected from Ms. Penny ~ you never disappoint!

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  22. Oh my! A shimmery, silvery, ghostly tale. I think I'll tell this one to my grandchildren, if you don't mind!

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  23. Jinksy, what a perfectly scary tale. Good write!!!

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  24. That is beyond brilliant! So very eloquent. I was hooked from the first word to the last!

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  25. I'm so glad I parked my broom on your page today!

    This is delightful - I absolutely love it and what you did with the photo - what fun.

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  26. I loved this...spooky but thrilling and the photo effect adds to it.

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