A Scarecrow looks back on his Life
Before Oz
I had control of my life
I had a purpose
a reason for existence
a modus operandi:
stand in a field
and scare crows
that’s it, that’s all.
It was lonely at times
I admit, particularly
at night, but occasionally
a farmer returning
drunk across the fields
would stop and tell me his life story
then fall asleep, snoring
and farting at my feet
and yes, oh yes
I listened in on
acts of intimacy
on hot summer nights
and heard sounds
that made my straw curl;
then Oz occurred
and it was no longer
about presence
it was about absence
the absence of a brain;
children would circle me
and sing that stupid song
suddenly I was pathetic, forlorn;
what got me most was the
sheer illogicality of it all –
to yearn for a brain, one must
have a brain to begin with,
sometimes, I think the sole function
of a brain is to yearn…..
(…hang on a second, I’m sure I saw that same crow yesterday. The little bugger won’t come within twenty feet of me. I’ve still got it….)
This poem was inspired by a dVerse prompt to write a poem from the point of view of a character from The Wizard of Oz..a scarecrow, a Tin Man, a lion. I played with that a bit.
Another winner!
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Thanks, Jano!
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Oh, to have a head stuffed with straw! Then we could all sleep at night.
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I find if I go to sleep after a Chlor Tripolin and a few beers, I wake up with a head full of straw !
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Nice perspective wishing he were back scaring crows.
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Thanks Frank!
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Great visuals especially with the drunken farmer. Yes,it is definitely illogical to long for a brain…..without a brain. Was wondering if anyone would point that out…..and you did. Thanks for joining in with the prompt. 🙂
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Thanks Mish, glad you enjoyed it, excellent prompt!
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I see potential for a trilogy here. I used to know all the words to “If I only had a brain” but now they escape me. If only…
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Now there’s an idea! (I actually looked up the song lyrics, they are clever, sort of…)
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Very inspired…
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Thanks V.J. !!
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You are very welcome.
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Very fine movement of the poem
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Thank you, much appreciated!
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