Southern Legitimacy Statement: I grew up in Central Heights in northwest Alabama, and I’ve lived in Tuscaloosa and Knoxville. I have never been outside of the south for more than a few days at a stretch. I was 25 before I learned that snake doctors (which I’d seen since my toddler days) and dragonflies (from books and movies) were one and the same.
The Boy and the Monster
Prologue
A boy and a monster walk
into the woods. The sun sets
on the pines, on the maple’s blood-red
leaves. From a distance, we see
the boy’s pale skin and the claws
at the end of the monster’s furry arms.
Legend
In one legend, the boy is alone.
He crouches in the rocks and mud
beside the lake. The monster
sees the boy and reaches
out to him. A tiny hand
grasps a big, hairy paw.
A Cautionary Tale
The boy left his parents,
wandered too far,
and was eaten alive
by the monster.
Becoming the Monster
The boy wanders into the woods,
becomes a monster, and lives
happily ever after.
He cradles fledgling birds
in his hairy arms and then
carefully returns the peepers
to their nests. He pats squirrels
on their furry, little heads.
Horror Story
A boy wanders into the woods,
becomes a monster, and then
returns to the village. He kills
and eats 100 villagers.
Tanka
Lonely road. Strong wind. / The boy w/ monster huddle / together under / a bridge for warmth. There are dreams. / There is fire. Oh, brilliant stars.
Alternate Ending
After a hearty breakfast,
the boy and the monster
become one. They disguise
themselves as an office
worker. They tie
their shoes and button
their spiffy cardigan.
They take the bus to work.
They sit at a desk
beside the water cooler.
Conflict Resolution
The villagers gather
with their torches, machetes,
and assault rifles.
They follow the monster
into the woods. The monster
kills several villagers.
A man fires two bullets
into the center mass
of the monster, stopping the beast’s
heart. The villagers chop
the monster into pieces.
Among the many pieces,
the villagers find
a bright-eyed boy.
