Slappy the Apple Tree of Oz - Wiz

SLAPPY THE APPLE TREE OF OZ - WIZ Dorothy and I go way back, don’t you know and by the way I’m familiar with the bale of hay, thundering tin can and the trembling kitty show. At first they were hesitant to let me stay. I had to pull my roots up from the ground, put a cafeteria net in place to hold its yield, then follow the yellow brick crowd ‘round and ‘round and avoid a screaming witch out in the field. She threatened to tear me limb from limb. I stuck out my red tongue, told her to just try. The knees of tin clattered together - poor him, and dear Dorothy and her little dog let out a sigh. I fell asleep standing in the poppy garden of snow. My apples were nearly poisoned but I shielded them before my eyes closed. Thankful for Glinda’s glow — awakening even the brave one with his absent brain stem. The growling yawn of the cowardly furball freaked me out. I shook the diamondback crystals from my leaves and trunk. Our Kansas girl led the way to Oz with a tree-mendous shout. For the millionth time we grab arms and sing - this time in funk. We reach the wonderfully luscious land of oz - green as my hair. Begging audience of the wizard, he finally sees us. I’m patient as he listens to the beggarly needs — a lion’s share. I won’t bring myself down to their level - make a great fuss. The wizard listens to this wizened curmudgeon tree. I ask him for unending sweet apples without any worms. And as he has done with the rusty-eyed gang, he makes a decree, for he must give a long winded speech and make us squirm. The only drawback is I must stand guard in this breezy courtyard — a lookout for writings on the skywall that might jeopardize our lives. Still, I am the crowned jewel, so humble, in this emerald vanguard. We sang and danced our way down the yellow brick and survived. 10/29/2018 Off To See The Wizard Poetry Contest Charles Messina - Sponsor In the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy gets slapped by an apple tree. This is where I came up with his name :)