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Pinocchio and the Talking Cricket

by  Thomas Norman

Posted: Thursday, February 19, 2015
Word Count: 281
Summary: I'm proud to announce that this poem has been accepted for publication in the Spring edition of The Linnet's Wings. I would also like to thank James for his invaluable help in revising my original version.







No Pinocchio, you did not kill me. You failed.
When the hammer sailed through the air, you failed. And there began your trail of troubles!
Mad at Geppeto, getting locked up for neglecting and abandoning you.
So you left, wandering on your fatuous quest. Acquired a few coins for doing tricks;  
 a piece of pine! Fathead. What do you know of the world?
Then that beauty, the blue-haired fairy you found in the woods. I could have told you a thing or two about her devious ways.
Oh yes, I know about her. Thought she was the one for you didn’t you; promised to turn your coppers to gold. Blockhead!
Fairies only exist in the imagination of dunderheads. Yes, yes, I know she promised to make you rich, the sly beauty, just
       wanted your coppers, idiot.
And where is that gold? On a magic island she said, with a Golden Eagle waiting to fly you  there. So off you trundle to the
      coast, and what do you find? A seagull!
Of course he agrees to fly you to the magic island; in return for half the gold! More fool him!
So did you find the promised gold? Poppycock! Of course you didn’t.
Then back you go to the blue-haired fairy’s cottage, only to find an old hag! I could have told you. No gold, no fairy beauty and
      not even the coppers you started with.

And now you come crawling back to Geppetto, heart broken, rotten with decay. Be thankful he took you back woodenhead.
But I’m still here Pinocchio, and I know those secrets in your rotted heart..
All your dreams have come to this: A table leg!