Yellow Brick Roads

rebirth , a story of

you know how it starts
once upon ...
a girl
where she felt alone
dreams fading in a black and white room - 

 

her home
 
so she gathered her love
and left down the road

dustbowl footprints leading
to somewhere else

 

storms came
sooner than she needed,
the midwest does that
sucked up in dreams
of a bejeweled city,
nestled between dreamland and hell

 

stranger became hero
rising above the little people

her allegiance to

thoughtless, heartless cowards

squeaking false bravado

through that shifty forest

nightmares throwing fireballs -

 

girl standing strong

 

jewel on the horizon
caught in opiate slumber 
spoke before a God who wanted a favor

"kill the b***h and I will save you"

 

the b***h had other plans
sent an army on wings of fear
to snatch that sweetie
and her little dog too

rattlehead and strawboy
dragging that run tail lion 
busting heads for honor
to save that poor girl 

 

hooked nose hag
her eyes wide, reaching
greed was her fire
doused by an innocent act

 

the b***h just wanted to walk in her shoes

 

no parade back at the ranch 
woke to faces she neglected
bad dream erased by smiles
remembering with a click  ...

 

there's no place like home

 

 

Author's Note

It is the anniversary of this classic tale I hope Mr. Baum isn't rolling in his grave and if so with a smile ...

Reviews

[V.B.]

It's always a pleasure to read you, Robin, and this was no exception. I love the candid takes on all the characters, and how you managed to flip the whole Oz story on its head.

I am reminded of one of my favorite internet memes for some reason: If you watch Jaws backwards, it's about a shark who throws up people until eventually they have to open a beach.

[OT]

very nice!! the archetype heroines infiltrate everyone's literature every now and then! haha I like how you almost deconstruct her and then rebuild her!! a favourite for sure!!

[E.H. Monroe]

If Dorothy could spit, hooked with ella fitzgerald for a background and had a baptist choir behind her I'd be front row with some popcorn and a hallelujiah. A classic retold in a few bars with some piss and vinegar.
And a B***h thrown in for good measure.
the greed as fire, the innocence as water, the purity washed away with the ol h2o.

F*****g A right thats Fire.

[MuSe Ampoule]

lends a urban version to this classic...realized the parallels to Alice in Wonderland in here...Less than a twist or take...this is the open-mic breakdown. Brilliantly done.

"spoke before a God who wanted a favor
"kill the b***h and I will save you""
and
"the b***h just wanted to walk in her shoes"
were just smashing!

[No use.]

witty spins around my tongue as the yellow brick roads connect and digress ~ click~there's no place like home..........

great retelling

[Crowley]

You have a magnificent way with words, a style all your own and an elegant cadence to all your work that makes everyone want to read more. I loved the original take on a familiar theme and the way you portrayed the antagonist made us feel a little empathy that the original did not. It is a gray line my friend...a very gray line. Nice work.

[Marie Harrison]

Is that the cliff notes version? Very cute. I'm from the midwest, I appreciated your reference to them. The Wizard of Oz was always my favorite movie to watch in the spring. Often it was interupted by tornados though. Ha! A few times the station replayed it, because all of the midwest kids loved it so much!

[bbb]

"the b***h just wanted to walk in her shoes," This line almost makes me feel sorry for the wicked witch of the west! The adult take on this classic makes for an entertaining read. The poem also has a nice flow to it. Nice job!

[Fran Marie]

sucked up in dreams
of a bejeweled city,
nestled between dreamland and hell


a great adaptation of the oz indeed well worded ....my fave lines
above....nice job on this onE!

[emmajoy]

Wonderful! An modern adaptation that holds the core close to its heart.

' jewel on the horizon
caught in opiate slumber
spoke before a God who wanted a favor
"kill the b***h and I will save you"

A stream of powerful words that twist the original into a surreal lick of modern thought ..