Can you identify the fairy tale references in this poem by Anne Caston:
Prelude by Anne Caston
Every tree is one tree. That tree
grows in every forest, that forest always
dark and deep, always lying precisely
at the edge of every village everywhere.
Be there lost children, you will
have abandoned them there with a sack
of breadcrumbs; you will have filled
the trees with hungry birds.
Be there a huntsman, you
will have honed the hidden
blade he carries and sent him
in search of a girl’s heart.
Monsters, wolves or witches,
they are yours. Destroying angels,
devils, a crooked mirror on the wall, one
ripe bite of fruit lodged in a throat: yours.
The paralyzing poison. Drifting
snow. A wall of thorns. A coat of nettles.
Likewise, all extinctions. You have
traveled the deep Nothing to arrive here.
It is time.
Sleeper; waken.
Look: there. A tree.
What are you waiting for?
Find a grove of trees, enter it, close your eyes and listen…
“Be there lost children, you will have abandoned them there with a sack of breadcrumbs” Relates to Hansel and Gretel
“Be there a huntsman, you will have honed the hidden blade he carries and sent him in search of a girl’s heart. ” Relates to Snow White
“Monsters, wolves or witches, they are yours.” relates to LRRH and Hansel and Gretel
“a crooked mirror on the wall, one ripe bite of fruit lodged in a throat: yours. The paralyzing poison.” Relates to Snow White
“A wall of thorns.” and “Sleeper; waken” Relate to Sleeping Beauty
“Be there lost children, you will
have abandoned them there with a sack
of breadcrumbs; you will have filled
the trees with hungry birds.”
“Monsters, wolves or witches,
they are yours.” -Hansel & Gretel
“that forest always
dark and deep, always lying precisely
at the edge of every village everywhere.”
“Monsters, wolves or witches,
they are yours.” -Little Red Riding Hood
“Be there a huntsman, you
will have honed the hidden
blade he carries and sent him
in search of a girl’s heart.”
“a crooked mirror on the wall, one
ripe bite of fruit lodged in a throat: yours.
The paralyzing poison. Drifting
snow.” -Snow White
“A wall of thorns. A coat of nettles.”
“Sleeper; waken.” -Sleeping Beauty
“Be there lost children, you will
have abandoned them there with a sack
of breadcrumbs; you will have filled
the trees with hungry birds.” – references Hansel and Gretel
“Be there a huntsman, you
will have honed the hidden
blade he carries and sent him
in search of a girl’s heart.
Monsters, wolves or witches,
they are yours. Destroying angels,
devils, a crooked mirror on the wall, one
ripe bite of fruit lodged in a throat: yours.
The paralyzing poison.” – references Snow White
“Monsters, wolves, and witches” – references Little Red Riding Hood
“A wall of thorns. A coat of nettles… sleeper; waken.” – references Sleeping Beauty
Be there lost children, you will
have abandoned them there with a sack
of breadcrumbs; – “Hansel and Gretel”
Be there a huntsman, you
will have honed the hidden
blade he carries and sent him
in search of a girl’s heart. -”Snow White”
Monsters, wolves or witches,
they are yours. – Little Red Riding Hood
Destroying angels,
devils, a crooked mirror on the wall, one
ripe bite of fruit lodged in a throat: yours.
The paralyzing poison. Drifting
Snow. – Snow White (Again)
It is time.
Sleeper; waken. – Either/Both Snow White or Sleeping Beauty
“Be there lost children, you will
have abandoned them there with a sack
of breadcrumbs; you will have filled
the trees with hungry birds.”
A reference to Hansel and Gretel. Specifically Gretel’s plan to find their way home that failed the second time.
“Be there a huntsman, you
will have honed the hidden
blade he carries and sent him
in search of a girl’s heart.”
A reference to Snow White and the huntsman sent after her.
“Destroying angels,
devils, a crooked mirror on the wall, one
ripe bite of fruit lodged in a throat: yours.
The paralyzing poison. Drifting
snow. ”
A reference to the Snow White tale once again, but focuses on the Evil Queen and her scheme.
“A wall of thorns. A coat of nettles.
Likewise, all extinctions. You have
traveled the deep Nothing to arrive here.
It is time.
Sleeper; waken.”
A reference to Sleeping Beauty with the thorns and the slumber she goes through.
Be there lost children, you will
have abandoned them there with a sack
of breadcrumbs; you will have filled
the trees with hungry birds. – Hansel & Gretel
Be there a huntsman, you
will have honed the hidden
blade he carries and sent him
in search of a girl’s heart. – Snow White
a crooked mirror on the wall, one
ripe bite of fruit lodged in a throat: yours.
The paralyzing poison. Drifting
snow. -Snow White
A wall of thorns
Sleeper; waken. – Sleeping Beauty
“Be there lost children, you will
have abandoned them there with a sack
of breadcrumbs” – Hansel and Gretel
“Be there a huntsman, you
will have honed the hidden
blade he carries and sent him
in search of a girl’s heart” – Snow White
“Monsters, wolves or witches, they are yours” – LRRH and Hansel and Gretel
“a crooked mirror on the wall, one
ripe bite of fruit lodged in a throat: yours.
The paralyzing poison. ” – Snow White
“A wall of thorns. A coat of nettles.” – Sleeping Beauty
“Sleeper; waken.” – Snow White/Sleeping Beauty
“That tree
grows in every forest, that forest always
dark and deep,”- Little red riding hood
“Be there lost children, you will
have abandoned them there with a sack
of breadcrumbs;”- Hansel and Gretel
“Be there a huntsman, you
will have honed the hidden
blade he carries and sent him
in search of a girl’s heart.”- Snow White
“a crooked mirror on the wall, one
ripe bite of fruit lodged in a throat: yours.
The paralyzing poison. Drifting
snow. “- Snow White
“A wall of thorns. A coat of nettles.
Likewise, all extinctions. You have
traveled the deep Nothing to arrive here.
It is time.”- Sleeping Beauty
Sleeper; waken.
“Be there lost children, you will
have abandoned them there with a sack
of breadcrumbs” – Hansel and Gretel
“ Be there a huntsman, you
will have honed the hidden
blade he carries and sent him
in search of a girl’s heart.” AND “ a crooked mirror on the wall, one
ripe bite of fruit lodged in a throat: yours.
The paralyzing poison. Drifting
snow.” – Snow White
“ A wall of thorns. A coat of nettles.
Likewise, all extinctions. You have
traveled the deep Nothing to arrive here.
It is time.
Sleeper; waken.” – Sleeping Beauty