Notes About The Poem

Entry for A Wicked Twist on Fairytales Poetry Contest: Sponsored by: Sara Jama  

 

Under The Tree Where The Bodies Hang

Under the tree where the bodies hang
swaying, dancing in the gelid breeze
neath their rotting toes, the children sang;
slow circling a boy; they taunt and tease.

"It's your father and your mother, too,"
they chant, as one, fiery eyes aglow,
"Who dance on the rope, and soon will you."
to the cadence of a cawing crow.

"We'll slice you up and cook us a stew."
the chant gets faster. Each takes a knife
"Then we'll boil your bones and make some glue."
thirteen stabs put an end to a life.

They braise the boy, then each they follow
from dark black cauldron upon a fire;
of steaming stew, they take a swallow;
each with each other, they now conspire.

"We sliced you up and cooked us a stew."
the singing slows as the children fill
"And no one cares because no one knew."
soon, sleep takes over the early thrill.

Wolf was waiting on the edge of dark
thirteen children who once danced and sang
become just a stain, a bloody mark;
under the tree where the bodies hang.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2025


Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Date: 6/10/2025 6:04:00 PM
Seems like a perfect Mother Goose type tale. They're all wicked, if you've noticed. Artfully done, Terry.
Login to Reply
Miller Avatar
Terry Miller
Date: 6/20/2025 3:21:00 AM
They are indeed wicked, Grimm by name grim by nature, thank you Gershon
Date: 6/1/2025 12:00:00 PM
I wish I had tried this contest now but I still probably couldn't have matched this one. Big congrats on your win
Login to Reply
Miller Avatar
Terry Miller
Date: 6/20/2025 3:21:00 AM
Thank you so much Andrea
Date: 5/28/2025 7:53:00 AM
And I thought you were such a nice guy Terry !!! Wow I am still shivering. Umm I cant say it was a "nice poem", I can say it was wonderfully written, and captivating. Move over Steven King, Terry Miller is on the scene. Congrats on the win in the contest Terry, definitely well deserved.
Login to Reply
Miller Avatar
Terry Miller
Date: 6/20/2025 3:24:00 AM
Hi Wen, it was a bit dark and nasty, but then the original Grimm tales were, anyway I had a lot of fun writing it. I have set this one to music too, works really well: https://www.instagram.com/p/DKvSRgIT2Gx/ Thank you for your kind comment, stay well.
Date: 5/23/2025 8:09:00 AM
Oh my. Dark and twisted for sure. Should do well in the contest!
Login to Reply
Miller Avatar
Terry Miller
Date: 5/23/2025 8:35:00 AM
It is dark indeed Andrea, I hope it is what was required, thank you for stopping by and reading
Date: 5/22/2025 3:17:00 PM
Ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ew - weeew - your imagination did cleverly chew! Fantastic ending, so fitting. A grim tale that would teach children irony, plus a moral: what goes around comes around, OR give children nightmares. No child would hear the tale and walk away with no reaction. Though dark, so very dark (I wouldn't want to see the movie), I appreciate the talent, the tale's worth and the creativity that when into it. 1st stanza, 4th line, is front the word intended? Great Job ... CayCay
Login to Reply
Miller Avatar
Terry Miller
Date: 5/23/2025 8:31:00 AM
Thank you!
Jennings Avatar
CayCay Jennings
Date: 5/23/2025 4:35:00 AM
Soup Mail
Miller Avatar
Terry Miller
Date: 5/22/2025 3:40:00 PM
I struggled with that word, good catch pointing it out, I wanted to use it as to deceive to be fake put on a face but I am very open to suggestions, as I am not 100% with that line. But the contest wanted dark, so here it is
Date: 5/19/2025 11:22:00 AM
Geez! LOL! Truly Grimm!
Login to Reply
Miller Avatar
Terry Miller
Date: 5/20/2025 9:30:00 AM
It is a bit!
Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter