Green Flesh Of A Swan


If
 my
 heart 
could steal 
enough  glitter
  from clicked heels,
  I would dance among
 swans and not breathe this 
tepid air of boiling pots and
 foul spells.   My bitter, green
 flesh curses me to fly on a stick
 of wood and weed when my feet
 wish to balance on satin toes with a 
princess's  grace. Even my spirit that  fears
 water's splash  would dare to spread its wings across a 
crystal lake unburdened by misery's reflection in its mirror. Free me
 from this land of Oz where I am tied to lies glistening in emerald stones.
 Let me dance on dreams to music that plays more than a melody of remorse.
_______________________________________________________

©Susie Clevenger 2014

Fireblossom over at Real Toads has us doing mash-ups. She challenged us to take a well known character or actual person and placed them in a situation no one has thought to place them in before. I chose the unlikely scenario of the witch from the Wizard of Oz wishing she could dance in the ballet, Swan Lake

Comments

Love this! I looked at that prompt and just could't think of anything--this is wonderful!
Vandana Sharma said…
Ah! such a soothing poem and I ma sure the witch will definitely dance to its tune!
Sherry Blue Sky said…
This is brilliant, Susie. Even before I read the explanation below, it made perfect sense to me as a metaphor for our lives.......and our longings........especially loved "I would dance among swans" and the "crystal lake unburdened by misery's reflection".......a fantastic write.
Gillena Cox said…
What an awesome 'mash-up'!!!

Much love...
brudberg said…
I love it.. what a nice image of dancing with swans - may maybe even the evil ones wish to do something else.
Anonymous said…
A very poignant tale. Have you read Wicked? I haven't but I think it has a sympathetic take on the poor witch, and you've taken it another step here--or sashay-- k.
Gail said…
Perfect. I shall have to remember the bad guys dream of something different too.
Maude Lynn said…
This is really neat, Susie. Very creative.
Hannah said…
This nearly dances with musicality and movements so graceful...love your choice of mash-up, Susie. :)
How original! So beautifully crafted, it felt completely natural and right. Lovely work.
Quite lovely, both as fantasy and poem.
Margaret said…
How nice to imagine this.