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.

[Miss Coral]

I would not have understood this at all if it weren't for my love of that story. Excellent piece.. I love the phrasing and the different look on those things. Wonderfully done.

Have you ever seen Wicked though? :)

[Sweet_pale_cacophony]

There is such easy fluidity in your words,it always leaves me awestruck.I enjoyed reading this thank you :)

[Bubo]

Oh, how I loved "The Wizard of Oz" as a child, and a fantastic description in poetic form of her journey........ my sister and I use to be terrified of the witch, but Toto was so sweet..........love it!
hooked nose hag
her eyes wide, reaching
greed was her fire
doused by an innocent act

[DamienHino]

"storms came
sooner than she needed,
the midwest does that
sucked up in dreams
of a bejeweled city,
nestled between dreamland and hell" I like this line I was actually trying to guess the city...Nevada good job.

[TAO]

nice, nice indeed.

stranger became hero
rising above the little people
her allegiance to
thoughtless, heartless cowards

I loved this stanza right here... Favorite part - at first, before I noticed, I was wondering what you meant by "thoughtless, heartless cowards"...then it hit me, and I very nearly fell to my face (don't worry, I'm sitting on the floor right about now, so it wouldn't have been too far a fall). You know, I didn't like the wizard of oz (or that unfortunate Michael Jackson spin on the tale, The Wiz - I'm a hater), but this right here made me want to go out and get me a copy of it...though, I much don't feel like the drive to walmart at 2.00 in the morning (Walmart's sort of like Oz, I think).

Well written and a fun read, to say the least. I think Selene definitely got the right of it.

[Candylove.]

Such a good read! I really enjoyed this. :)

[Moonflower]

This flowed and created a magical scene, very much like wizard of oz. I enjoyed reading it all the way through. Beautiful writing.

[...]

. ah! ... enchanting all the way ... and exceedingly poetic ... starts with a drizzle and ends with home ... your writing has a unique aroma ... and when i read something like this ... i so wish that mainstream, hot off the press, cutting edge poetry ... makes it to mainstream education ... the timelessness of classics ... and the timelessness of brilliantly rendered odes ... is so captivating ...

[kuru]

nice imagery...it was fun to read, "kill that b***h and ill save you" lol

[Ed Hart]

what a wonderful adventure of words, reigniting our childhood push off, that should have taught us for all time about wizards, and helped us avoid the truth that wherever we are is home...a right decent homage, i would say