As I said yesterday, this is an exercise of writing and not meant to be anything beyond that. The following is the work of illustrator and author Edward Gorey, with the plates containing the illustration and the original one line text that accompanied it. As an exercise, I wanted to expand upon each illustration using the original line as my springboard and making it work, without altering the context of the illustration. Saying that, I realize that I have more than likely changed the author’s original intent on what any particular illustration was showing on exactly how that particular child met their end. To this I say "I don’t care, it’s my damned exercise". Besides, even though the nature of this original work is supposed to be devilish fun, the more I read it, the more I see a cautionary tale that the author may or may not have intended. And that is how I have treated my additions to it to flow. I see neglectful children & parents and I also see things that happen, just because it happened with nothing that could have been done about it.
I hope that I have kept the original spirit of the project alive (Cha-Ching!). You will either like it or hate it and that is your choice, but again, do not read anything into beyond that. I love my kids, I love all kids and hate to see anything happen to them. I take devilish fun in this original story (and my additions too).
I hope you do too.
If not;
Too bad.
Because she ran wonton with nary a care,
Her mother did warn that she should settle down
And now naughty Amy will rest in the ground.
When off he did wander from the groups watchful stares,
With sweet cakes in hand, he blissfully set out in fun
And found brand new friends that he could not out run.
After a long drawn out illness she got after fun reckless play,
She spurned mothers’ advice to put on coat, gloves and hat
Too late realizing her wrong; I guess that is just that.
When they rounded the curb on a cold winter’s day,
He would not sit down as his father demanded
It would be a week before they found where he landed.
Placed for him on the table, within such easy reach
Too late did his parents, to themselves have to admit
That they should have considered removing the pit.
She found on her leg and announced with a screech,
But her attention drawn elsewhere, made her totally forget
Attention to detail she wouldn’t live to regret.
Where he recklessly decided to follow after a bug,
The movers in the meantime, came by and rolled up the mat
Carefully pounding down that middle that they found was too fat.
Who wanted to give him a special thug’s hug,
‘Be Wary of Strangers’ his parents often chided
If only their words he would have faithfully abided.
Who was far too distracted to see that big wake,
She was too busy gazing at her waters reflection
When the wave scooped her up and away from detection.
When he was looking for juice that his thirst could partake,
He sucked down the liquid and then fell to the floor
And so thirsty James, would be thirsty no more.
Because fathers diligence had became far too relaxed,
For the tool shed was open this dark dismal day
Cowboys and Indians the children did play.
When he over heard mother state ‘I’m so mad I could spit tacks’,
What a wonderful thing he thought, to be able to do
And so a great scheme in his mind did bubble and brew.
On a day at the beach which had started in glee,
Her parent’s attention was drawn elsewhere nigh
So they didn’t notice when Maud was waving good-bye.
(Ennui: boredom)
There seemed nothing that could help keep his spirits a buoy,
Nothing held interest and he was always quite board
And so the great nothing was his final reward.
When she wanted to play but could not find her ball,
So she settled for something she found left unguarded
And she now plays the role of the dearly departed.
After she entered the door and went down the hall,
Where much to her humor the last thing she’d see
Was the tumbling tangle of a grown up melee.
When chasing a butterfly across the dark brooding shire,
Not paying attention to his step was a gamble
And only the butterfly emerged from the bramble.
Proving that getting to close to the flames can be dire,
How many times did her parents try to warn her away
Too late does she see that the flames too, like to play.
Driving her poor parents quite out of their wits,
Screaming and yelling for things all through the day
She asphyxiated herself for not getting her way.
As like into the fan when the shit truly hits,
He brought out his fireworks, he had hidden with care
But when he jiggled the package, he went out with a flare.
That was meant to capture nothing more than the rain,
Her parents had always thought about covering over that hole
Just in case their dear daughter near it decided to stroll.
Despite that for it’s approached he did watchfully strain,
If only he had thought to look in the other direction
He could have easily made its arrivals detection.
That she chose to cross despite her older sibling’s advice,
‘I know what I’m doing’ she said without reserve
And now for the winter she’ll be perfectly preserved.
He kept his room filthy and vermin it did entice,
‘Keep your room clean’ his mother constantly said
‘Oh go away mother, I’d rather be dead’
When the pillar was struck by a strong evenings wind
Time worn and weakened, it cried out to please be removed
But it was aesthetically handsome, and it’s keeping his parents approved.
From the bottle she stole, she thought with a grin,
She loved the room spinning and so she continued to pour
Z is For Zillah; Not anymore.
The End
LOVE IT!!!
Too good. Love D, E, J, T and Z. Well I love them all those are just my particular favorites.
This reminds me of the song "People Who Died" by the Jim Caroll Band. Jim\’s "life story" (and I use heavy quotations) is portrayed by Leonardo in "The Catholic Diaries".