Anansi and the Sky-Blue Story Box (part 5)

Anansi climbed down from the tree. He picked up the sticky tangled mess of doll and unseen creature, being careful to carry them away from his body. Then he went home and collected the other items Nyame had asked for. He checked that the leather pouch and the gourd were tied securely to his belt. He made sure that he had a good grip on the log and that the molasses doll had a good grip on him.

Anansi and the Sky-Blue Story Box (part 4)

After a time, Anansi heard a rustle in the trees and a creature came forward. He couldn’t see it because it was on the other side of the doll, but he heard it speak.

“Cream and honey, that looks delicious,” it said in a squeaky breathy voice. “May I please share some with you?” it asked.

Anansi jerked the string and the doll nodded.

Anansi and the Sky-Blue Story Box (part 3)

“Now to catch a rainbow python,” he said to himself.

“Simple,” said his wife without looking up. “All you need is a log and a length of rope.”

“Yes, yes, I understand,” said Anansi, hurrying off to get the items.

Anansi and the Sky-Blue Story Box (part 2)

The first item was easy. Anansi returned to his home and dug a large, deep pit next to his front door, just off the path. He covered it with palms and long grasses until the hole looked the same as the ground around it. Then he invited his friend Leopard over for a drink.

Anansi and the Sky Blue Story Box (part 1)

Once upon a time, a very long time ago, before people would sit around the campfire and tell stories in the evening, Anansi the Spider-Man lived in the heart of Africa.

Anansi was such a character. He was bold and brash. Whenever he tried to trick people – and oh, he was a trickster! – he would be found out and hide his face in the corner in shame. His shame would never last long though, and soon he would come up with a new reckless idea.

Random Poetry - Fireplace

Fireplace

Soft, red embers glowing

only warmth in early dawn.

Flickering throughout the night

with the occasional yawn

Not until the sun creeps

over the windowsill

through a gap in the curtains

and begins the room to fill

with light and life and daybreak

do they at last sleep.

Steadfast guardian of the dark

the vigil they will keep

Random Poetry - The Jar

The Jar

I store my old dreams

in an applesauce jar

At the back of the third shelf

with some scraps of paper

and a few faded photos

So when I need them

I can take them, dust them

patch a tear and polish off

the apple smell to use them again

My second-hand dreams.

Random Poem - Dream Fragment

Dream Fragment

Do you remember that thought

on the edge of consciousness

when you woke up this morning?

Do you remember, please don't forget. 

Not all the way. 

Because that was me

calling in your sleep to say

I love you, I miss you,

and I'm sorry I left you behind.

The Fisherman and His Wife part 5

The fisherman went back to the castle, but it had changed. The rough stone had been replaced by smooth, polished, white marble. Imperial legions drilled flawlessly. The servants went about their tasks with such grace and perfection that they seemed to Fraco to be dancing about their work. King and queens paraded stately down the hallways.

The Fisherman and His Wife part 4

Though Fraco had a hard time adjusting to nobility, Liberelle took right to it. Everything went perfectly well for nearly a week until they received an invitation from the king. He wanted them to come to court and meet all the other nobles.

The Fisherman and His Wife part 3

The old fisherman walked the same path he always had, but instead of ending up at his little home by the sea, he found himself standing in front of a great mansion in the nicest part of town. He stared in amazement at seeing his cozy little house transformed into something so elegant. He approached a bit cautiously, and jumped when the door was opened for him by a prim, plump butler.

The Fisherman and His Wife part 2

The next morning the sun was shining and the sea was reflecting back the sky in a deep sparkling blue. The fisherman stood on the beach and called across the calm water:

“Flounder, flounder, prince of the sea,

my wife Liberelle, whom I love very well,
has sent me to ask a boon of thee.”

The Fisherman and His Wife part 1

            Once upon a time, an old fisherman, Fraco, and his wife lived in a tiny shack on the edge of the ocean. Each day, the old fisherman would walk down to the beach. Working with his net and trusted old fishing rod, he would spend all day waist-deep in the tide catching fish. Whenever he brought a fish home, his wife would fry it up in their single lopsided frying pan, and they would eat their dinner together, sharing their single fork between them. When the fisherman caught some extra, he would sell them in the town a few miles away and buy other food, like thick bread and some twisty carrots. On days when he didn’t catch any fish, they went to be with empty stomachs and hopes for a better day tomorrow. Life was simple, and though they didn’t have much, what they had was enough for them.