The title says 'Pinocchio' so who's this wooden freak?
So skinny, so unfortunate, so drab and so antique?
You'll say this is an imposter, for, like everyone, you've seen
The real 'live' Hollywood character up on the silver screen!
But this is, indeed Pinocchio, the little wooden man!
This is him in Italy at the time his life began.
Carlo Collodi thought him up in 1861;
He invented a puppet who could laugh and talk and run.
But he didn't think much of him; the publisher was told
'This is a bit of nonsense that really leaves me cold.
Do what you like with this story; you can even throw it out!'
A pretty poor beginning for a hero, there's no doubt.
It was taken-on as a series, but Carl felt such apathy
That he killed the puppet off at the end of series three.
Pinnochio was murdered by the evil dog and cat
And Collodi washed hs hands of him, thinking that was that!
But no! The children of Italy were completely horrified
To think their latest hero had deserted them and died!
So he had to rewrite the ending, making Pinocchio survive!
And when the ending finally came he was still alive!
When a book was published it became a big success,
Even though, initially, it had been something less!
As soon as Collodi died, of course, Walt Disney grabbed the rights.
As we say 'The rest is history' ! Pinocchio scaled the heights!
The Disney cartoon was a classic, and Collodi was forgotten,
Which I know is the way that the world works but I think it was rather rotten.
What's that you say? You feel cheated! Come on! Give me a break!
All right! All right! Here's the one you want to see!
FOR GOODNESS SAKE!
*
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RAIN-DROPERA!
Always shown in gleaming sunshine, brilliant white against the blue,
On the ferry, off to Manly, I got quite a different view.
Rain came sheeting down the window as the icon floated past.
Full-on rain, much more dramatic than the merely overcast.
A day of simple grey, I'm certain, would have lacked the bright pizazz
That an Opera House that's weeping , still majestic, surely has.
How that shaft of wandering sunshine, which will soon be banished too,
Lights a sail before it glides off into the far-retreating blue.
And I know for sure tomorrow, washed and polished, bright and clean,
The icon will be back to normal, glorying in the summer scene.
*
10 comments:
Pinocchio's origins in rhyme! Impressive. Interesting that the creator didn't like his story. Maybe that's why I didn't enjoy reading it or Disney's take on it.
A GREAT history! And it rhymes!
Check out this Pinocchio book cover!
ROG, ABC Wednesday team
I agree with Roger - I so thoroughly enjoyed this post and, it gives all of us who have at some point been rejected for creative work inspiration and a smile!
I nearly did Pinocchio too! It's certainly a sad tale.
In the end I opted for Beatrix Potter and Peter Rabbit today - a naughty rabbit who nearly got caught and put into a pie!
I loved to read Pinocchio when I was a child !
You are so creative. I really enjoyed reading the rhyme and history of Pinocchio. I had no idea. Fascinating information. I do like the Disney version but had no idea there was another. Thank you for sharing.
A Perfect choice for the day! Much as I like the Disney-fide versions of fairy tales, I still like the originals too.
I'm almost certain I read the story before I saw the movie, but it was a long time ago. Still, I read everything I could find when I was a child, and seldom went to movies until I was a bit older. However, I don't recall the original illustrations, so maybe I misremember.
A great choice for P day, though, Brenda, and your Rain-Dropera photo is fabulous! I definitely remember when I saw the Opera House, and saw a play there, as well.
— K
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel
You are quite a gifted rhymer! Do you talk in rhyme too? I think it just rolls off your tongue without giving it a thought!
He is one of my favorite characters.
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