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“How to Change a Frog Into a Prince” by Anna Denise
Start with the underwear. Sit him down.
Hopping on one leg may stir unpleasant memories.
If he gets his tights on, even backwards, praise him.
Fingers, formerly webbed, struggle over buttons.
Arms and legs, lengthened out of proportion, wait,
as you do, for the rest of him to catch up.
This body, so recently reformed, reclaimed,
still carries the marks of its time as a frog. Be gentle.
Avoid the words awkward and gawky.
Do not use tadpole as a term of endearment.
His body, like his clothing, may seem one size too big.
Relax. There’s time enough for crowns. He’ll grow into it.
(from The Poets’ Grimm: 20th Century Poems from Grimm’s Fairy Tales, 2003)
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One more diversion
Is this the story of a new believer, growing in faith?
Sounds like it to me, Mumsee. Priceless!
Another possibility that came to mind for me (for any of you evolutionists out there) is that it’s a comment on how difficult it is to act human with your reptile brain still functioning.
From the title, I initially thought it was about a boy turning into a man, but the believer/sanctification metaphor works, too, and is a kind of extension of that.
Oh good thought Mumsee.
And yes, Harrison, I was picturing my little grandson growing and maturing.
I like this one.
HSK: The “boy to man” metaphor did not even occur to me, but now that you mention it….I raised a couple of boys. There are probably a number of transformations one could illustrate this way.
Bottom line, it’s exquisite.
Wonderful poem. I laughed out loud. I too thought of the a new believer.
Ha! But I also thought of a newlywed couple.
I thought of boy-to-man right away. Of course, my older son having just turned 16 yesterday might have something to do with that.
Here I go! I took as a rant against men. The woman has to turn the frog into a prince.
It reminds me of women advise young brides to “train their husbands.”
You guys complicate things too much.
I thought you were supposed to kiss him. A little love is what most of us frogs need.
Sorry Kyle, y’all weren’t suppose to hear those comments:)
Chas–
Kyle A: I tried really hard to train my children so their spouses wouldn’t need to do too much of that. It’s such a drag for both parties! (But you’d need to ask their spouses whether I was at all successful!)