Grateful this morning to Feral: A Journal of Poetry & Art and editor Beth Gordon for publishing one of my Little Red poems.
WHAT HAPPENS IN THE DARK WHEN IT’S COLD OUTSIDE
I hope you enjoy this new take on the old story.
Arty Junk Journal
Just finished these scrap clumps last night to use in my journaling. I never did unload all my vintage fabrics, so I am using them for fun.
Hi Luanne, I absolutely love the poem! With balanced mystery & illustration/explanation, sensitivity & hard fact.
Thank you for sharing it!
Thank you, Jade. I love your description! Make it a great weekend.
That was so dark and wonderful, Luanne. Loved it.
Diana, thank you so much. I’m thrilled that you loved it!
I love your poem–insightful and compelling in such an unexpected way! Brava!!
Liz, thank you so very much! I am so glad you enjoyed it and thought it was unexpected!
You’re welcome, Luanne! I love poems that take conventional narratives, expectations, and perspectives and turn them completely on their heads.
Me too. I love those old Transformations poems of Anne Sexton, for instance. They are a little dated now, mainly because one of their strengths was the use of pop culture references, but that is now a weakness as so much time has passed.
I don’t think I’ve read much Anne Sexton.
Ah, well, here is one of the Transformations poems: http://www.units.miamioh.edu/technologyandhumanities/sexton.htm
Thank you for passing along the poem. I just read it. I particularly appreciate the last stanza. That story.
I know! Hahaha. See what I mean about being dated though? Funny for those of us who know the references, but maybe not so much for younguns.
Uh oh, I didn’t read it as dated. I read the “stories” as representative, rather than actual events.
Wow, I love that poem! The images are so vivid, and all those emotions so recognizable to me—both as the granddaughter who didn’t pay enough attention to my grandmother and as the grandmother who longs for more attention from her grandchildren. Who knew Little Red Riding Hood was so deep!? I guess you did!!
Haha, thank you, Amy. I am so happy that you love the poem and that it resonates with you!!!
Congratulations, Luanne! And, wow! What an interesting and chilling take on Little Red Riding Hood!
I only recently realized where the heck you went to in November. YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So excited for you! And thank you so much re this Little Red poem.
😁❤️
Fantastic poem, Luanne! Congratulations to you!
Thank you SO much, Jill! I really appreciate you reading it and so glad you like it.
Loved it! Granny used to be a girl….🩸
Happy clumps!!
Happy clumps hah. It was a lot of fun making those lil stinkers. I was ready to keep going but thought I ought to use these first. Thank you re the poem, too!!!
What a terrific poem. I look at your angelic photo and then realize your creativity can go into the darkest place and make it shine. I enjoyed the lover triangle view of the story. 😊
Hahaha, angelic! Thank you so much for your great read, John! So glad you like it!!!!
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What happens in the dark…brrrrr…claims the soul.
Congratulations on having your insightful work published!
Have a good weekend…
Thank you, Sheila! So happy to have this poem out there. YOu have a spectacular weekend–or at least a peaceful, comfortable one (those are the best sometimes)!
Congratulations, Luanne. Such an interesting and unexpected take on Little Red. I feel for the grandmother who seems lonely and wants to tell the story.
She is lonely and sees too much. The older people get the less they want to be worried about the troubles of the young hah!
She does sound lonely. I suppose it depends on the problems and the young involved. 😀
And the Grandma.
😏
Thanks for sharing this!
Thanks for reading, Ellen! Happy weekend!
Congratulations! I absolutely loved your take on Riding Hood. The poor granny, abandoned except when they need something and she, having so much more to share. Wonderful.
And I love this journal. That is the coolest thing ever.
Dale, thank you so much on both counts!! Thank you for reading the poem, too. So well put: “the poor granny, abandoned except when they need something and she, having so much more to share.” Yes!
Which too often happens, I say. 🙂
That’s a great twist on the story, Luanne. Congratulations on the publication! I enjoyed reading it. Your creativity seems to know no bounds.
Well! That’s a different take on Little Red Riding Hood. You’re right. Nobody ever blamed the mother. Congrats on yet another great poem!
Never mom’s fault. Who sends their daughter into the woods on her own?! Thanks, Anneli!
Congratulations, Luanne. Such an insightful take on the tale
Thank you so much, Derrick!
Beautiful…and fascinating!
Thank you, Elaine!
I love the poem Luanne. My favourite re-telling is Angela Carter’s The Company of Wolves and your poem has a similar darkness to it, but I don’t think I’ve ever red a version telling the grandmother’s story!
I actually taught that version once years ago.
Congratulations, Luanne! Love the poem.
Thank you!!!
Whoa! A super-creepy new take on little Red Riding Hood. Hmm… Okay I’m cancelling the walk in the woods I was gonna do tonight. 😅
hahahaha Good idea. You just never know!