Monday, January 9, 2012

Magpie Tales #99 & - "Once Upon a Time"

image:  Lee Friedlander
The Friday Flash 55 is at the bottom of this post (a shorted version of the following poem)


Once Upon a Time

With silkened fingers
daintily held,
I dance with the King,
inappropriately
if not for my crinoline.

I smile beguilingly
entertain with flirtations,
giggles, adoring eyes.

Graced with long white gloves
and satin gowns resplendent,
in his arms enchanting,
beautiful, indulged am I

as long as I am not difficult.

In a vision glamorized
I am trapped,
where history remains paused
its page never turned
from the charm and lavishness
of "Once Upon a Time".

Look more closely
and you will see:

A king's possessive grip
holds my dainty hand,
feigned smile and flirtations forced,
eyes forbidden intelligence.

I pray this a waltzing dream
a nightmare I'll wake from soon,
or plead I will:

"Off with my HEAD!"

by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens 365, January 10, 2012

* * * * *
This is for Magpie Tales #99 .  The challenging photo prompt is at the top of the page.  I do like "The King and I" as it isn't the typical love story.  This was written not with Anna in mind, but with one of his wives in mind.   I just can't imagine!

I have also linked this with the wonderful "In the Garden with Imaginary Toads - Open Link Monday"


I even shortened this (AH - it's killing me :) to 55 words for "Mr. Know-it-All's Friday Flash 55" (A story in 55 words, no more, no less!)

Once Upon a Time (In 55 Words)

Long white gloves,
satin gowns resplendent,
I dance with a King
smile beguilingly.

Within his arms indulged
as long as I'm "Not difficult".

A vision glamorized

trapped within the pages of 
"Once Upon a Time".

Look closer:

Possessive grip,
flirtations feigned,
intelligence hidden.

This waltzing nightmare
I pray awake!

or plead:

"Off with my HEAD!"

by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens 365, January 10, 2012

 Mid 19th century satirical fashion cartoon depicting the ridiculously oversized crinoline.



31 comments:

Ostensible Truth said...

how did I miss this over on RT, ah well glad to have caught it up on dVerse - what wonderful scenes and images you paint - to draw us into the piece - you told quite the story here! nicely done

Unknown said...

Great story ...sounds wonderful on the surface and dark beneath really enjoyed it thank you x

hedgewitch said...

It always amazed me she could even walk in that dress, let alone dance.And I think you project a more authentic sense of how unromantic the situation might actually be. (All my sympathy on the cutting to 55--it hurts! ;_) )

Pat Hatt said...

Great storytelling in your verse and off with your head, sounds a bit to final, might want to forgo such a thing..haha

Grace said...

I love this classic movie..thanks for making me remember why I like this King.

Yul was awesome in this role ~

Happy week ~

Brian Miller said...

very nice...and sad that that might be the only way to gain release you know...what we see and dont see...the public persona and the hidden realities...

Vagabonde said...

I like your 55 words poem and that oversize beautiful lady’s dress is quite something! La Mode à outrance!

Maude Lynn said...

I can't believe you were able to turn this into a 55, too! Wow! Love this, Margaret.

Unknown said...

Gosh, Margaret... I might prefer the '55' version. But then, I adore frugality of word use. The key line for me, perfectly parsed?... indulged am I/as long as I am not difficult.

http://www.kimnelsonwrites.com/2012/01/10/his-demise/

Anonymous said...

wasn't that one of the best movies ever, while looking at you wanted dance around in a big dress. I enjoyed reading this

Ginny Brannan said...

I like your take on this Magpie, especially like the abbreviated version. A favorite story of mine. Came really close to seeing Yul Brynner on Broadway, but he was already ill, and just as we were leaving to head into NYC got the call that he had cancelled the show that day. No one played the king like he did! Nicely done, Margaret!

Susie Clevenger said...

We are not always what we seem...I feel you captured the essence of the King and I in beautiful brevity.

Marbles in My Pocket said...

Being a fan of history and somewhat familiar with kings, queens and such, I can sense the fear in this one. It was a dangerous time for a fair maiden who caught the roving lustful eye of the king. Very nice write!

http://charleslmashburn.wordpress.com/2012/01/10/the-sun-came-up-again-4/

Brother Ollie said...

crinoline...should be brought back...maybe?

Kerry O'Connor said...

I like both versions you have offered of this poem - and what a valuable exercise to prune down an original to just 55 words. You have captured both the romance and the restrictions very well with your ideas.

PS. I have noticed your interest in photography and wonder whether you would be interested in featuring your work for a Sunday Challenge. I want to offer added exposure of bloggers who are both writers and photographers. Please contact me if this sounds like something you would agree to.

Laurie Kolp said...

I like the subtle switch of tone in the first one and the terseness of the second.

Love your approach to the prompt, too, Margaret!

Margaret said...

Ginny... yes, what a disappointment to be SO close

Kerry, I sent you an email, but yes, I would be honored.

Thank you everyone for your kind replies. I do love the movie, but I have a feeling, most Kings are not like Yul Brynner in the movie. And Pat, I THINK "Off with your head" was a line somewhere in the movie... :)

hyperCRYPTICal said...

All is often not what it seems and cleverly captured here!

Anna :o]

Tess Kincaid said...

I like your second non-dainty version...nice!

Brian Miller said...

came back for the 55...again, the look closer...beyond the curtain there is often more to be seen...

moondustwriter said...

Yes I would agree - away with the feigned...

High hope your 2012 is wonderful!!!

G-Man said...

Et Cetera, Et Cetera, Et Cetera...
The Movie AND your 55 are now BOTH Classics!
Margaret Bednar...You are Our Treasure.
Thanks for playing, and have a Kick Ass Week-End

angela said...

Hello Margaret ~ it took a bit of doing to find this...so glad I did. Your other blogs are quite wonderful. The horses are so lovely!!! A fan of the King (sigh) and I; your 55 brought a smile, dig the "not difficult" as Anna was, indeed ~

Margaret said...

Sorry Angela. I do have a lot of blogs and this was not the most current post. I do link up in G-Man's comment section most every week with a direct link. I haven't seen this movie in quite some time and need to do that soon. Oh, kings wives and mistresses back then HAD to behave or else. :)

Ann (bunnygirl) said...

Even when the man in question wasn't a king, a woman was expected to act about like this. Whatever problems we have today, at least that's not one of them!

Anonymous said...

I can imagine, but would rather not.

MorningAJ said...

I suspect that women are still epected to behave like that when they are with (potential) kings. I'm not sure I ever wanted to be a princess.
Good 55.

My 55 are here.

izzy said...

Oh yes it was a nightmare! to try and dance with WHALEBONES!?? Never mind a 10' skirt- Loved your take on Yul- intelligence hidden- it would have to be after all the years he danced !

Trellissimo said...

The very thought of crinolines makes me cringe...Poor females who had to suffer them!

Doctor FTSE said...

Intrigued by the last line of your entertaining 55. Is it a reference to something Brynner says to Deborah Kerr in the film . . ?

Margaret said...

It is actually a line that was cut from the original theatrical show (before it hit Broadway, I think). I need to watch the movie again and see if it was put back in... It's been a while since I've seen it.