Sneewittchen

Ten small moons
blank as bone,
not bright enough
to guide her home.
Five above, and
five below
in the land of Fae,
where cold winds blow.

A coffin, glass,
her beauty case;
asleep at last,
the maiden, chaste.
A mirror’s truth
first planted seed,
from poison springs
doom’s apple tree.

Cloaked in night
her hunter lies;
a queen deceived
by fourteen eyes.
Grim tales weave
through bloody looms.
In royal breast
a thawed rose blooms.

Ryan Stone

image

First published in Poppy Road Review, March 2016.


Comments

59 responses to “Sneewittchen”

  1. Ah, the old tales come to life. Nice, Ryan!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Never too old for a fairytale 😉 Thank you, Sarah.

      Like

  2. Manan Unleashed Avatar
    Manan Unleashed

    Oh Ryan, what flow, what lucidity, what rhythm, this moves like a lyrical dream. My new favourite of yours! A feast for the eyes and the heart. Bravo!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Manan! I appreciate your kind words so much. I’m never overly confident when writing rhyming poetry…I worry I sound forced. Happy to hear it flowed for you 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Manan Unleashed Avatar
        Manan Unleashed

        Oh it did. And beautifully so.

        Liked by 1 person

  3. A good tale that flowed.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you do much. I don’t often rhyme, glad it came across ok 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Elizabeth Helmich Avatar
    Elizabeth Helmich

    This is so gorgeous, love your spin on this tale. The last two lines…yes!! ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you so much, Elizabeth. Wonderful feedback 🙂

      Like

  5. Wow Ryan…you’ve done a brilliant job with this one. 🙂 Amazing! A thawed rose blooms…wow! Can’t stop saying wow! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Wow-I’ll join in, too – your feedback is wow 🙂 Thank you kindly, Aishwarya 😀

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Haha 😀 cheers!

        Liked by 1 person

  6. Any man who puts “fae” into his poem somehow has found a way into my heart.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. WooHoo! Thanks, Em – made me smile 😀

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Good, I’ve done my job. I am part fae, after all…

        Liked by 1 person

      2. It’s a magic way to be 😀

        Liked by 1 person

  7. beautiful poem, I love its rambly, fairytale rhymth and rhyme and the accompanying art is wonderful!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Ah, you’re so lovely! Thanks, Melinda – big smiles over here now 😀

      Like

  8. Rising Hawk Avatar
    Rising Hawk

    Lovely! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you so much 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  9. A. M. Yeager Avatar
    A. M. Yeager

    Gorgeous!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Al. And what did you think of my poem? 😜

      Like

      1. A. M. Yeager Avatar
        A. M. Yeager

        😛 Silly! Seriously though, this one is gorrrrgggeeeeoouuusss!

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Thank you, Al 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      3. A. M. Yeager Avatar
        A. M. Yeager

        ;]

        Liked by 1 person

  10. I actually stood up near the end and am applauding. Brilliant writing Ryan.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Haha, that’s brilliant! Thank you, Ax – greatly appreciated, mate 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  11. Ryan, this is an exceptional piece! Wow! You amaze me!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you for your lovely feedback, Belinda. You’re always so kind 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. You’re most welcome and deserving. Who doesn’t love a fairytale?. Grin

        Liked by 1 person

  12. moonskittles Avatar
    moonskittles

    Beautiful poem, clever twist Mr. Stone. The rhyme and archaic words added to the sophistication of this tale. Loved it and the image you chose compliments that ingenious title!
    🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Miss Skittles! I made the picture specifically 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. moonskittles Avatar
        moonskittles

        You look great in red!! 😀

        Liked by 1 person

  13. Ryan, this is such a delightful retelling of a classic tale in poetic form, wonderful. You had me smiling with, “by fourteen eyes” a great visual. I thoroughly enjoyed this. Please have a wonderful weekend. ~ Mia

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you so much, Mia. I certainly will after your feedback! I hope yours is full of magic, too 😀

      Liked by 1 person

      1. You’re welcome and thank you. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  14. Oh my, Ryan–this is nothing short of fabulous! Applauding with sincere delight!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. You have no idea just how much that means. Thank you, my friend 🙂

      Like

      1. Oh you’re more than welcome–it was a stellar stunner!

        Liked by 1 person

  15. Magical. I agree with Emily, fae in a poem! ❤️ I love it.

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Beautifully written Ryan! A fairy tale twisted with a modern key! Your poem reminded me that I loved all the Brother’s Grimm fairy tales 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Carolina 🙂 Something a bit different-so happy you liked it.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Yes I did like it! It’s nice to be different 😉

        Liked by 1 person

  17. hooklineandinkwell Avatar
    hooklineandinkwell

    Great piece, Ryan! You capture the essence of this old tale much better than the modern day attempts. Love this and the image is perfect!!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, mate. I’m constantly amazed at the content of many ‘bedtime’ stories!

      Liked by 1 person

  18. hooklineandinkwell Avatar
    hooklineandinkwell

    You are welcome, my friend! Keep the content coming 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  19. I love the fairy-tale magic here. The images are as bright and haunting as the illustrations of classic storybooks. It was like stepping into a long-forgotten world. Fantastic!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Brilliant feedback – thank you so much 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  20. What a beautiful version of the fairytale. Absolutely loved this!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Geetha. So happy you stopped by 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Welcome Ryan. I am happy to have stopped by too. I missed out on a few of your writings as I am very time constrained these days and only barely get to transcribe the flow of poetry that keeps pouring out for me but have not caught up on the writings of so many people I love to follow.

        Liked by 1 person

  21. I’ve not seen this one before … a truly fanciful fairytale with fantastical imagery, Ryan

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thanks so much, mate. Something a little different. Happy you liked it 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. My pleasure Ryan

        Liked by 1 person

  22. love this, i definitely don’t read enough of these types of poems

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Very kind of you, Amira. Many thanks

      Liked by 1 person

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