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Trolls
| Open Poetry #20 |
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Trolls |
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Corinne Member Ascendant
since 1999-10-28
Posts 5167state of confusion 
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Trolls Mother used to read “The Three Billy Goats Gruff” whenever Jane spent the night. We squealed like the girls we were, cowering beneath the covers with jittery legs, until Mom said that evil trolls also liked to hide in the beds of little children. We rooted for the billy goats, throwing the squat plastic trolls into imaginary rivers, with their wavy long tails of bright blue and day-glow green hair. The next year, Jane and her family moved to another state, but no one could say where because they were hiding from her father, crazy Ernie, who shot and killed their Uncle Stubby in an argument over Stubby’s dog, who like to poop on Ernie’s lawn. They had to move a couple of times before Ernie finally caught multiple sclerosis and couldn’t chase them anymore. My mother said his guilt caused him to get sick like that. When I was in my twenties, I thought about Jane, asked around and found out she and her mother were in Idaho. I tracked her mother down. She told me that Jane was homeless and living under a bridge just west of Boise. I thought I could help, so I drove for thirteen hours, stopping only for gas and once for dinner in Winnamucca. I visited Jane’s mother at the funeral parlor where she worked and also lived. I thought this must be almost as bad as living under a bridge, because she had to put makeup on dead bodies and sleep by the cemetery and Eloise (that’s her name) told me that it did make her very depressed. And I asked what ever became of Jane’s brother, Chip (Chip, Chip, the potato Chip), Eloise said he was in jail for drugs and grand theft auto. I wasn’t really surprised since Chip used to shoot his own horse with a bee-bee gun just for fun. Eloise told me that, for a time, Jane was married to Dwayne. They had two daughters, but Dwayne used to beat Jane up and finally kicked her out of the house. She did some bad things to get back at him and lost those kids permanently. She didn’t care about anything after that - went insane, maybe it runs in the family, all this had led to Jane without a home. I started to wonder why I had come and was scared to go see Jane for a lot of reasons but mostly because I was afraid for her. Eloise went with me, she had been there plenty of times to bring food and clothing. There were at least twenty people there including some families. They became angry when we crossed the riverbank and stepped into their homes. Jane didn’t recognize me, I almost didn’t know her because her hair was long and wild and her face had grown old. We talked to her for a long time, trying to prod her memory with summers spent at the beach, horse back riding and the first concert we ever saw: Procol Harem. But Jane only moved further under the bridge and threatened to eat me for dinner. © 2002 Corinne Bailey [This message has been edited by Corinne (05-02-2002 10:58 PM).] |
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| © Copyright 2002 Corinne - All Rights Reserved | |||
Mistletoe Angel 
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
 (tears fall down my cheeks) Oh Corinne, this is so very heartbreaking, I felt my heart ache just throughout the poem, feeling for Jane's losses and all the torment she went through and Ernie and his conflicts and all the sorrowe that surrounded her! (BIG HUGGGSSSSSS) It hurts me so much to see so many victimized by so many seperate things at once, sweet friend, my heart and prayers go out to you and Jane and her family and I hope everything works out somehow soon, with all my heart! God Bless You, sweet friend, you and Jane are in my thoughts and prayers, we all love you so much! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Corinne, thank you for sharing!  May love and light always shine upon you! Love, Noah Eaton "Underneath your clothes there's an endless story..." |
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Marge Tindal
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
Corinne~ This is a totally outstanding write~ One of the best I've read, here or anywhere else~ There's just something about the way you tell these matter-of-fact slices of life that make them as real as they were~ *Hugs* gal .... (I'm fine, really~) Just in the throes of moving and finding it a real chore to pack my life in boxes for the move~ I'm not inclined to like confinement ... of my life or my personal belongings ... can't wait to get it all UNpacked~  Love ya' ~*Marge*~ ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~ |
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Christopher
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-02
Posts 8296Purgatorial Incarceration |
i will try to revisit this tomorrow when i have the time it deserves. for the non, i will say that this is the type of writing i truly like to see - introspective (from an extroverted point of view) and deeply touching - the nerves, the rawness, the pain, the power. well done, of course, and more of this would not be unappreciated. Chris |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Corinne, this is YOU, sweetheart! You are so good in this style of writing. I didn't want it to end. The phrases you used, the humanity you etched into it, the naturalness of it (Chip, Chip the potato Chip)...awesome! Stephen King writes like that and you do equally as well. What a wonderful last line....I'm gonna be impressed with this one a long time. Third poem in two years to go into my library... |
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Corinne Member Ascendant
since 1999-10-28
Posts 5167state of confusion |
Noah, - thank you! That you always respond is heartwarming! Marge - thank you, kind lady! Hope your move is done quickly - I hate that feeling of limbo too! Chris, thank you very much! It's funny, one can spend hours and hours on a poem and get a lukewarm response; this was written in an evening (still needs some work, I think). Helps I guess, to draw on experience! Balladeer, you dear! I feel honored to have a place in your library and you have made my week. Thank you! Corinne |
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passing shadows Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577displaced |
love it love it love it! You certianly do have a way! |
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Elan Member
since 2002-05-03
Posts 382State of Wide Eye |
I do not think anyone could say it better than the Balladeer has done. You have a unique way with your thoughts, and they translate well onto the written page. No one could do it quite like you. |
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Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
Corinne, I can only emulate Balladeer. This is an excellent write. You have a style of your own and one I love to read. If I kept poems this would go right in the book. Sy |
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Victoria
since 2000-08-12
Posts 5869 |
Such a sad story..but nicely written Corinne Enjoyed your words... ~Victoria |
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Parker Member Elite
since 2000-01-06
Posts 3129ON |
Cor, like all your tapestries of life... an astounding write. Park |
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Sven
since 1999-11-23
Posts 14937East Lansing, MI USA |
I see that you really stretched yourself for this one Corinne. . . and it shows. . . this image is very powerful and fills the mind well. . . one of your best, yes, very much so. . . great work. . . -------------------------------------------------------- To the world, you may only be one person. But to one person, you may be the world. |
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