Sequel

lillian

I doth tromp amidst this misty fjord scene
my youth expired, seeking to inquire.
Searching caves, knowing my child’s desire.
To sail with thee, frolicking where I’ve been.

Since my desertion, what is thy routine?
May I but hear you roar and see your fire?
Meet my child, that is all that I require.
And so I bare my shame, I plead and keen.

I’ve shared with him my childhood tale of joys
of pirate ships and rides upon your tail.
Prithee show yourself and accept my plea.

I dost promise thee, he shall bring you toys,
climb upon your back to happily set sail.
I shall bow to thee, grateful for his glee.

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Kim is hosting dVerse today, the virtual pub for poets. She asks us to rewrite a popular song in the style of a sonnet (perhaps Shakespearian), without telling readers what the song is. Sonnet: 14 lines: two quatrains followed by two tercets — all in iambic pentameter with the following rhyme scheme: abba, abba, cde, cde.  This was a real challenge for me! Warning: even the mighty Will Shakespeare diverted from the strict form occasionally.  Pub opens at 3 PM Boston time. Come join us!  (Photo taken a few years ago on our Alaskan trip)
LYRICS:  Puff the Magic Dragon

Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honahlee
Little Jackie paper loved that rascal puff
And brought him strings and sealing wax and other fancy stuff oh

Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honahlee
Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honahlee

Together they would travel on a boat with billowed sail
Jackie kept a lookout perched on puff’s gigantic tail
Noble kings and princes would bow whene’er they came
Pirate ships would lower their flag when puff roared out his name oh

Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honahlee
Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honahlee

A dragon lives forever but not so little boys
Painted wings and giant rings make way for other toys
One grey night it happened, Jackie Paper came no more
And puff that mighty dragon, he ceased his fearless roar

His head was bent in sorrow, green scales fell like rain
Puff no longer went to play along the cherry lane
Without his life-long friend, puff could not be brave
So Puff that mighty dragon sadly slipped into his cave oh

Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honahlee
Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honahlee

Writer/s: LEONARD LIPTON, PETER YARROW
Publisher: Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

39 thoughts on “Sequel”

  1. Glenn Buttkus April 13, 2017 / 3:08 pm

    Killer sonnet–made even better by the olde English verbiage. I got the dragon motifs, but Msr. Puffs not in my mind yet when I read your clue. Your sonnet is superb–guess the form does not intimidate you; smile.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • lillian April 13, 2017 / 3:26 pm

      Oh but the form, any form and especially with a required rhyme scheme does intimidate me. I feel absolute panic and diagram, and sketch and find rhyming words — I’m a free verse kind of gal😊 so your compliment is a real plus for me!! Maybe I should add the song lyrics at the end??? Think I will add that now.

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    • lillian April 13, 2017 / 3:21 pm

      Sure is! 😊. In the song the boy leaves him when he grows up. Here, he comes back to find Puff and ask him to provide the same magic to his son😊

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      • kim881 April 13, 2017 / 3:23 pm

        I used to sing that all the time when I was little. I think I might include it in my Bounce and Rhyme sessions at the library!

        Liked by 1 person

    • lillian April 13, 2017 / 3:33 pm

      Thank you, Frank. One of my favorite songs and how I wish Puff was real! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  4. Grace April 13, 2017 / 3:40 pm

    Nice song choice Lillian and I love the Olde English sonnet ~ This is my favorite part:

    I dost promise thee, he shall bring you toys,
    climb upon your back to happily set sail.
    I shall bow to thee, grateful for his glee.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • lillian April 13, 2017 / 7:19 pm

      Thank you, Grace. I loved this old song 🙂 Fun to shift back into the old Elizabethan language 🙂

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  5. Jane Dougherty April 13, 2017 / 3:56 pm

    Puff the Magic Dragon used to make me cry when I was little. It’s so sad! Nice rendering 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • lillian April 13, 2017 / 7:20 pm

      Glad you enjoyed! So now when you hear Puff the Magic Dragon again, you don’t have to be sad because you know the sequel — when the boy grows up he goes back to Puff, asking him to be a magical companion for his own little boy! 🙂 Puff …. forever the friend of children!

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  7. paul scribbles April 13, 2017 / 7:39 pm

    Puff is real and lies by the sea surrounding Hanalei bay in all his majesty. I’ve seen him 😉

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    Reply
      • paul scribbles April 13, 2017 / 8:02 pm

        When you swim in the bay and look back landward you can see the whole dragon. Quite something.

        Liked by 1 person

  9. Jade M. Wong April 13, 2017 / 8:01 pm

    Love the extra step you took in making use of old English language. This was a delight to read.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • lillian April 13, 2017 / 8:02 pm

      So glad you enjoyed, Jade. It is fun to slip into ye olde tongue occasionally! 🙂

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  10. Bekkie Sanchez April 13, 2017 / 8:24 pm

    A wonderful job, Lillian! I almost guessed before seeing what it was from because I remember that song very well. What a fun read!

    Liked by 1 person

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  11. Charley April 13, 2017 / 8:52 pm

    Okay, I cheated. Too long a day with middle schoolers (you would think that would help!). Beautifully done! Did you hear the sound of my hand hitting my forehead?

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  12. Sabio Lantz April 13, 2017 / 10:11 pm

    Puff is always been a song which chokes me up. And your sonnet was great at capturing its essence. Well done.
    BTW, I think it is a Italian (Petrarchan) sonnet, not English (Shakespeare)

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    • lillian April 14, 2017 / 7:55 am

      So glad you enjoyed! Thy comment dost pleaseth me!

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  14. Singledust April 14, 2017 / 9:24 am

    i was amused by the old English. and Puff was a delightful inspiration!

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  15. Bev April 14, 2017 / 11:33 am

    I loved that song and found it such a sweet childish fantasy … until I learned it was all about sniffing cocaine, and my illusions were smashed! You certainly mastered the sonnet format in admirable fashion!

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  16. Adda April 14, 2017 / 8:52 pm

    Wow! I love your sequel to this song. Such a wonderful, pleasing, heartwarming read.

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  17. colorfulpen April 15, 2017 / 1:15 am

    Love this sequel! The beauty of this kind of magic…it never dies.

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  18. whimsygizmo April 16, 2017 / 12:26 pm

    Oh, I loves me some dragons! Puff is awesome, and so is your sonnet. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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    • lillian April 20, 2017 / 9:58 am

      A few moments of internet connection during TransAtlantic cruise….glad you enjoyed!

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  19. samba2017 May 19, 2017 / 9:27 am

    I really enjoyed this. Thanks for sharing. I love a good rhyme and the poem on my poetry blog here on WordPress is about rhyming in case you have time to look? Have a rhythmical weekend, Sam 

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