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Open Poetry #35
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The Ugly Duckling
| Open Poetry #35 |
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The Ugly Duckling |
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Ratleader
since 2003-01-23
Posts 7026Visiting Earth on a Guest Pass 
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The Ugly Duckling They called him ugly, and he was. Didn’t look right, sound right, walk right, and they let him know, like ducks will do. He grew ungainly too, fast and strange, turned the wrong color in time. Did they accept him then? Not a quacking chance. Did he get to see himself through unbiased eyes? He did once, when some swans came through. “Acts like a duck,” they said, sotto voce, and flew away. He was raised by ducks, you know, trained to think the way they did, though he never managed that either. He was ugly, so he got smart. A swan has a big beak and a long reach; he learned his jaws could break a wing, even a neck, and he broke a few. After that, they didn’t call him ugly anymore. They stayed clear, didn’t call him anything, and he liked that just fine. |
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| © Copyright 2005 Ed Ratledge - All Rights Reserved | |||
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
After that, they didn’t call him ugly anymore. They stayed clear, didn’t call him anything, and he liked that just fine. This one wrenches the heart... to never fit in... and to hurt so much and so long that you pretend everything's okay simply because you've never known what okay was... when numb is as good as it gets... You've taken a tale we all know so well... and reminded us that all endings aren't happy... and some aren't even endings, just prolonged pain. Absolutely fantastic write! |
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Joyce Johnson
since 2001-03-10
Posts 9912Washington State |
A great twist on the old tale but I hope his swan days came before he got into too much trouble. joyce |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Maybe one day, he will see his own reflection in the water, and realize he's beautiful! Enjoyed this, Ed!  |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Did they accept him then? Not a quacking chance. ~*~ Recently, our own ecrivan took some school tales, tall tales and realore...and wove them into abstract poems such as this... either you read them, and enjoyed... or you are jetting along on a similar plane; either way? I am proud of you both...for every fairytale needs some adaptation now and then.... I think even the Grimm Brothers did the same. Excellent work, Rat... |
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Nightshade
since 2001-08-31
Posts 13962just out of reach |
Very interesting thoughts well penned. hugs, Chris You said you'd give me light- |
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passing shadows Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577displaced |
neat write |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
Not a quacking chance. If my memory were to be wiped clean, this line would remain in my thoughts... enough to lead me back to poetry. *S* |
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EvocativeVerse2 Senior Member
since 2003-09-10
Posts 1279 |
Mmm to never fit in...to always be on the wrong side of the fence. This is really good. I can relate with the poor guy. Never fitting in...finally not caring. Yes...I know that story. |
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