poem: Laid Open

[intrikate88]

prompt from visionrevision :  "She dreams of cutting him open"

Poem. Based on the story of Beauty and the Beast, part of a sorta grown-up story cycle poetry collection I'm doing of the fairy tale.177 words.

"Laid Open"

 

His fur parts beneath her fingers

silky curls revealing dark unseen skin

that falls away in ribbons

like venison. Through tendons she reaches,

splitting joints, desperate for

what is hidden inside

the cage of his bones

(her own heart, trapped.)

A prince with gold circlet lies

asleep; his eyes,

they’re closed, and she doesn’t want

him to see her, doesn’t want

him at all, because his chin

is not strong and his muscles

are wasted and

she does not want this man inside her Beast.

In waking life

he emerges from his quiet retreating

to roar at her for for prying deep

beneath his fur and the cage of

his bones. (He’s used to

sleeping alone.)

What is she supposed to do, she roars back;

his attack

is sudden, the tips of his claws

at her neck like knives.

“I do not know,” he tells her,

not withdrawing, as if he will slice through her

to the girl sleeping inside. (She wishes he would.)

Later, she realizes, none of the blades they held were steel.

Comments

[mabus101.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. Very interesting, this...

I've read somewhere recently (maybe it was you?) about the origins of the tale as a means of educating young women about marriage (men are beasts, and you have to learn to cope with them to find the person inside). Obviously, modern adaptations have altered the message.

Here, Beauty isn't even interested in the prince--she wants her Beast. I don't know what to make of that exactly, except that it's a thoroughly modern interpretation....

[intrikate88.livejournal.com]

No, I wasn't the one who said that, but it does sound like one likely origin. Another essay I read said that beastly lovers in general are about the simultaneous sexual fear and desire of virgins- wanting someone who will both be a gentle "prince" and also a "beast" that will keep them from having to initiate or explore this new ground actively. The more modern versions clearly have the message of love winning out over appearances, but that is obviously at odds with the conclusion, where the reward for love is... an change in appearance. It's thoroughly dissatisfying, and to paraphrase Robin McKinley's Rose Daughter's version of Beauty, "What would I do if my Beast went away and left me with some handsome stranger?" In my understanding of fairy tales, that sort of prince figure I associate more with Cinderella's prince, who does not care for Cinderella until she is dressed appropriately, pursuing him, and GIVES HIM HER FUR SLIPPER OMG SMARMY BASTARD. Ahem. So Beauty's prince, who roars at her and demands her honest self just as much as he shows her his, is a far more interesting character to me.

[mabus101.livejournal.com]

but that is obviously at odds with the conclusion, where the reward for love is... an change in appearance

Hmm. I suppose it's one of those things that only works as a metaphor.

It's odd that the only attempt I've made at writing a story in a fairy tale style was titled "Beauty and Beasts", though I didn't take more than the trappings; the story itself doesn't have much to do with the tale.

[ninamazing.livejournal.com]

IIIIIIIIII fucking love this. (Even though my first thought was: Damn you! I wanted to do this prompt! :P )

There are many layers in this, and I definitely agree with what you and mabus101 were saying about the whole gender politics aspect. It's an interesting one, especially since this is probably the fairy tale I gravitated toward the most as a little girl. (Well, that and Rapunzel.) My favorite line:

she does not want this man inside her Beast.

Packs such a punch. ♥

[intrikate88.livejournal.com]

Dude, totally do the prompt. They are not monogamous, we are all about the open relationships here. OUR PROMPTS ARE 'ITS COMPLICATED' ON FACEBOOK.

Ahahaha, Rapunzel. When I was up at andi_horton's house last week (um it is just so fucking cool to say that! ...anyway,) her roommate's daughter was watching Barbie Rapunzel and I was sort of watching it too and then suddenly I burst out with "OMG I SERIOUSLY GET IT NOW the prince is climbing the TOWER GAY GAY EW. Not that I judge. BUT SHE IS LOCKED IN A FUCKING GINORMOUS PHALLIC SYMBOL FOR CHRISSAKES." And the three-year-old stared at me like I had lost my mind.

So me'n some friends are putting together a chapbook of poetry and writings and shit, and this and a few other of my BATB poems are going to be in it, so if I end up printing a set amount rather than individual ones, do you want a chapbook?

[thunderemerald.livejournal.com]

This is gorgeous! And I don't usually even LIKE poetry! Such a brilliant new take on the story...

...man, I may have to do more than one response to this prompt...

[intrikate88.livejournal.com]

Teehee, I'm so glad you like it. It warms those heart-cockles when I hear that people that don't like poetry like mine; I've been getting into writing more lately through going to poetry slams and all that, and the almost sketch-work that I can practice in poetry works out well in prose as well, what with imagery, themes, and word choice. Language is so neat.

[thunderemerald.livejournal.com]

Language IS neat. I even agonize over word choices in stuff where I'm writing very simple prose. Just makes it so much damn better.

[weathered2dust.livejournal.com]

"Later, she realizes, none of the blades they held were steel."

This line made me want to weep. For someone who has never been in a realtionship, you hit a soft spot for those who have been. Theres nothing more painful than words, and nothing more rewarding.

<3

[intrikate88.livejournal.com]

Thanks, sweetie. Glad it got to you. :P