J is for James (and the Giant Peach)

So, James and the Giant Peach, a novel written by Roald Dahl in 1961, but I bet you didn't know that he helped invent a valve (the Wade-Dahl-Till valve) that help alleviate pressure in the brain. His son, Theo has hit by a taxi cab and suffered from hydrocephalus (water on the brain). He had also received head, nose, and and back injuries while in the Royal Air Force in the 1940s. I bet that was part of the reason he was keen to help his son years later.

It has been a few years since I read the book, so I hope the poem is enjoyable for everyone who has either read the book, seen the movie, or have heard of it. I like the concept of evil aunts, a giant peach, and an epic adventure with insects.

What is your favourite Roald Dahl book, Dear Readers? I am partial to The Witches or Fantastic Mr. Fox myself. Enjoy!

Just Peachy Adventures

Imagine if you can, there was a peach

that grew so big that it rolled away

down and down the high topped hill

and with a splash feel into the ocean.

That grew so big that it rolled away,

carrying with it a band of travelers

upon the adventure of their lives

away from the evil Aunts Sponge and Spiker.

Carrying with it a band of travelers;

a spider, a grasshopper, an earthworm, and ladybug

away from the evil Aunts Sponge and Spiker,

and one little boy, James.

A spider, and grasshopper, an earthworm, and ladybug

aboard a floating peach, quite impossible you say!

and one little boy, James

catching birds to fly further away.

Aboard a floating peach, quite impossible you say;

to some who don't believe that

catching birds to fly further away

is even more fantastic to believe.

To some who don't believe that

down and down the high topped hill 

is even more fantastic to believe--

Imagine if you can, there was a giant peach.

Some drunken poetry

Today is the day that I write a poem about Love and Wine, and since I am going to perform in The Tempest in a week. I dedicate this poem to my castmates, Miranda, Ferdinand, and Caliban specifically. A toast to fair weather, happiness, and Clown Porn (inside joke). It's not in rhyme, but I like the flow of it.

Anacreon was a Greek poet who devised this type of poetry, with a rhyme scheme and a sing song feel to it. Like the bards of the olden days, singing the tunes to a rowdy drunken crowd at a party, wedding, or in the tavern.

Tempest Love Toast

Pour from thy heavens, Spirit-

'Tis time to fill thine glass full

with libations for the new

couple, upon mine own isle.

Decreed from the rightful heir,

the name you know, Caliban.

Will sing the praises of yours

The blessing nuptials fair

in a toast of the Fish Man.

We sing the praises rightly--

The Spirits of the drink flow

into all of our glasses.

4:15 pm

Today I say, "Let us be Jocund!" ~Caliban