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Under The Bed- A Bedtime Story
| Open Poetry #7 |
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Under The Bed- A Bedtime Story |
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David2 Member
since 2000-03-22
Posts 407 |
Under The Bed Upon a hill there stood a home, These many years ago. Inside there lived a little boy, Whose secret soon you’ll know. A handsome, happy, loving lad, With soft brown curly hair. He wiled away his waking hours, In play without a care. This Ryan was a strong-willed child, And full of boyish grit, And if he fell or tumbled hard, He wouldn’t mind a bit. He played outside most very day, In worlds he would create, And battled raging fiends and foes, In castles made of crates. He played until the sun would set, In search of pirate’s gold, Until he’d hear his mother yell, “your supper’s getting cold!”. His mother made delicious meals, And served them piping hot. Her chicken was the best around and always hit the spot. So in he’d rush to wash his hands, And scurry to his place, He’d clean his plate of every crumb, And never leave a trace. At last his belly full and fat, His thoughts would turn away, To magic lands of knights and kings, And dragons he might slay. He’d curl up in a cozy chair, And read a book for fun, Of prehistoric dinosaurs, Or rockets to the sun. When it was time to go to bed, He went without a fight, He brushed his teeth and washed his face, And kissed his mom goodnight. He scampered quickly up the stairs, And with a mighty leap, He jumped into his nice warm bed, And quickly fell asleep. He dreamed of cowboys while he slept, Like most rambunctious boys, When suddenly he sat upright, Awakened by some noise. It came from underneath his bed, And sounded like a purr. He thought he felt his mattress move, But couldn’t be quite sure. Then fearlessly he looked below, And there against the wall, The only thing beneath the bed, His beat up soccer ball. “ That wouldn’t make that noise,” he thought, As one more glance he took. “But still I better crawl around, And get a closer look.” And so he crept beneath the bed, With mischief on his mind, But just that silly soccer ball, Was all that he could find. When suddenly, just like a mouth, The floorboards opened wide, And swallowed him with just one gulp, To lock him deep inside. He hurtled down a long dark chute, Not knowing where it led. Before he felt the stinging blow, That glanced aside his head. When he awoke he found himself, Upon a bed of grass. Amidst a forest lush and green, The sky as clear as glass. He looked around to find the chute, That brought him to this land. When there was none, he wondered why, And didn’t understand. Still woozy from the blow he took, His head he tried to clear, He didn’t want to lose his grip, Surrendering to fear. He took a breath of crisp clean air, And felt secure and sure. His wits restored he looked about This land pristine and pure. The trees were full of brilliant birds, He’d never seen before. The flowers bright and beautiful, In colors quite galore. Alone in this exotic land He set out to explore. And wandered deep in anxious thought, Of what might be in store. Then as he walked along a path, And pondered how and why, The sparkle of a polished stone, Reflected in his eye. A crystal lay upon the ground, And shimmered in the light. He picked it up and ventured on, And smiled in his delight. He walked along a little while, Until he found a cave, A massive structure struck in stone, Both ominous and grave. He wandered through a labyrinth, Of passages in rock, He came upon an opening, And stared in utter shock. Magnificent and glorious, The sight he stood before, A wonderland of nature’s best, Comprised its very core. The ceiling opened to the sky, As sunlight bathed the walls. Inside a garden paradise, With flowing waterfalls. One waterfall had carved a hole, And flowed most gracefully, Right through the caverns granite walls, Cascading to the sea. The sea, four hundred feet below, Did pound the rocky shore. No sight but half as beautiful, He’d ever seen before. The center of this garden held, A tree with leaves of gold, And chained there to its mighty trunk, A woman frail and old. As he approached she raised her head, And smiled the faintest smile. “Are you the child to rescue me?”, She whispered without guile. He said he really didn’t know, But that he’d like to try. He grabbed the chains and rattled them, Which made the woman cry. “Oh stop, please stop! It hurts so much.” She sighed in hurried breath. “If you should break these chains my boy, I’m doomed to certain death.” “ The only way to set me free,” She whispered quietly, “Would be to take a golden leaf, And use it as a key.” T’was then he saw the golden lock, Securing golden chains. He knew he had to grant her wish, And free her from her pains. And as he plucked one golden leaf, The tree began to sway, The very earth began to shake, Which caused him great dismay. And as his unbelieving eyes, Took in what happened next, He stood there frozen to the ground, Confused and quite perplexed. The little woman, frail and old, Was never in distress, For as he watched she soon became, A gruesome horrid mess. She grew to quite a monstrous size, And sprouted one more head, Four more arms and horns as well, Her skin a crimson red. Each head adorned with but one eye, A writhing, whip like tail, With cloven hooves instead of feet, And teeth like sharpened nails. Before him then a cyclops stood, And laughed a wicked laugh. “For stealing from my tree,” said he, “I’ll tear your heart in half!” And so the monster lunged at him, But Ryan leapt aside, And raced towards the waterfall, To try and save his hide. As Ryan reached the open cliff, He dove towards the sea. The Cyclops snatched him from the air, And snarled most fiendishly. “I have you now you guttersnipe! You needn’t try to fight ! You’ll make a tasty little snack, To curb my appetite!” This six armed Cyclops slowly raised, Poor Ryan towards his jaws, And there he faced a certain death, But for a moment’s pause. He didn’t know what made the beast, Slow down or hesitate. But that was all he needed and, He prayed he’d not be late. His pocket held the shining stone, He’d found upon the ground, And as he pulled it free he flashed, It quickly all around. Each facet of the crystal shone, As sunlight magnifies, And brilliant rays of golden beams, Did blind the giant’s eyes. So startled by the blinding light, His feet began to stumble, He teetered on the slipp’ry ledge, As rocks began to crumble. He lurched about the precipice, So staggered by the blow, And falling forward, hurtled towards, The jagged rocks below. But Ryan was determined not, to share the monster’s fate. And grabbed a limb that grew between, Two massive stony plates. The Cyclops met a violent death , As Ryan hung on tight. He closed his eyes, afraid to look, And squeezed with all his might. And then a voice so soft at first, Was calling out his name. Then louder still it grew until, His fear began to wane. He opened up his eyes to look, And saw his mother’s face. He glanced about and realized, A most familiar place. No longer did he dwell within, Those strange and distant lands, He found himself upon his bed, The head rails in his hands. His mother kissed his fevered cheek, And with a mommy’s charm, She whispered, “Dear, you’ll be all right, No one can do you harm.” He sighed in such a great relief, And held his mother near, And in the comfort of her grasp, He shed a single tear. He thought he’d tell her of his tale, As odd as it did seem. But surely she would have to say, “You’ve only had a dream.” So Ryan never told a soul, What happened while he slept. And locked it deep inside his heart, And there his secret kept. But no one seemed to understand, When morning followed night, Why Ryan’s pretty curly hair, Had changed from brown to white! So when you go to bed tonight, Leave on a little light, For monsters never come around Unless they think it’s night Now don’t you think this story’s true? C’mon at least pretend, When you believe in fairy tales, Your fun will never end. |
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| © Copyright 2000 David William La Belle - All Rights Reserved | |||
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netswan Senior Member
since 2000-03-28
Posts 1369Washington |
Wow David -----hahah I must have been a chicken child would have woken up just as the cyclops started growing -- GREAT imagery --- great tale netswan |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
David - You really should consider submitting this utterly awesome and technically perfect piece of work to a children's book publisher. It's one of the very best I've seen on these forums - and that's saying a lot - since I've seen every one.....  |
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doreen peri Member Elite
since 1999-05-25
Posts 3812Virginia |
David... Nan is absolutely right right right!!! Awesome work here!!! oh, and I'd like to illustrate it... seriously...!!! where've you been???? need to find more of your work... and quick! perfect rhyme & meter... perfectly publishable, delightful children's verse! you're the bomb!! Oh... and i have an idea for the title of the book... "Under the Bedtime Story"... y'think???  [This message has been edited by doreen peri (edited 05-18-2000).] |
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David2 Member
since 2000-03-22
Posts 407 |
Nan, I have been considering trying to get a few children's poems published but I am a procrastinator( perhaps I am a bit afraid also). Thank you for your kind words. Doreen, I like your title but I am afraid my brother has first dibs on illustrating ,sorry. You were very kind in your praise though. Netswan, Your words are too kind indeed.Thank you. David |
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doreen peri Member Elite
since 1999-05-25
Posts 3812Virginia |
Use the title if you'd like, David! ....can't wait to see the book in print with your brother's illustratoins! Artistic talent runs in families... this is a winner!! god bless dp |
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Janet Marie Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554 |
D2 i am awestruck and speechless by this. enchanted for sure. wondeful writing. you have found your niche in this style. take care, jm |
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CSwtThng Member
since 1999-07-28
Posts 124 |
Absolutely amazing. A perfect dreamworld. |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
David, You have filled my day with childhood dreams that I still thrive upon, you have tapped into imaginations well of innocense that I drink from, you have delighted my senses and taken me off into the world of make believe, where I live half my life, and you have pleased me to no end. I hope to see this in a book one day From a fellow guttersnipe Liz |
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Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
Wow! Thoroughly captivating tale, David! I agree, you should definitely have a children's book made from this! Excellent indeed! Denise |
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