Susanna Leonard Hill is hosting her 5th Annual Halloweensie Contest on her blog: write a 100-word Halloween story appropriate for children using the words costume, dark and haunt. All the other amazing entries can be found here.
What does a Shakespearean tragedy have in common with Apple Macs?…. Read on!
The Witches of MacBook By Joanna Marple
Lady Pink, and Honey Crisp,
with Macintosh the Scot,
make up the band
of witches three
that haunt this very spot.
Scroll the menu; check the spell—
dark, not too PC!
Drag the cauldron
to the fire.
The Job’s a cinch for three!
Bob the apples in the pan.
Chant above the brew.
Crush the candy.
Mix the mouse.
It smells so sweet. Who knew?
Clothed in costumes, green and red,
a web, the witches weave—
of chocolate mice
and candy corn,
to bless All Hallows’ Eve!
(87 words)
And if you want to hear it recited with the essential Scottish accent, with very poor lighting, click on the video below!
In my 20's, with only my guitar and a rucksack, I wandered the continents, immersing myself in the lives of some wonderful people, projects and stories, which changed the way I view my responsibility to others and this earth. Right now I'm a European transplant in the US who writes books for children and young adults. Stories can help us not only navigate our world but can connect us to others, and allow us to inspire and help each other. I believe that equity and empathy should be at the core of our all actions, words, and stories.
I am also a school librarian and I get a kick out of book-matchmaking! And I use the pronouns she/her.
Creative, and I love the accent. Good job and good luck to you 🙂
Thanks, Christie!
Beautifully written, Joanna! Love the rhyme. Well done!
Thanks you, Cheryl!
As a fan of Macbeth, I give your poem three thumbs’ up (two thumbs are mine, one was in the cauldron)! 🙂 Good luck with your entry!
HAHA! That’s funny, Teresa. 🙂
That’s what that is! Ugh!
Thanks for the thumbs up. I am not sure everyone in the US knows the names of the Apple varieties I used for the three witches, but that’s okay.
Great rhyming verse. Nice job!
Cheers, Gregory.
Super-clever, Joanna, and I LOVE your Scottish reading of it!
Aw, that’s sweet. I think you got all the silly Apple Mac jokes!
This was absolutely fantastic, Joanna! Very clever wordplay, spot-on meter and rhyme, and frightfully entertaining! Well done!
Randi, thanks for getting it!
The English teacher in me also appreciates the allusion to Macbeth’s witches! So fun!
Great rhyme and meter. Fun and imaginative story, Joanna. Happy Halloween!
Thanks, Gabrielle. Happy Halloween back atcha!
Joanna, talk about rhythm. That is brilliant, and the reading is perfect. Wow, I tapped it out. Fabulous, my friend. *snort* I saw Teresa’s comment. 🙂
Teresa is always a hoot. Glad the rhythm flowed for ya!
You really have a talent for rhyming. I loved your entry, accent an all! Very clever entry.
Haha. it is scary doing video. Renee la Tulippe makes it look so easy!
Amazing entry, Joanna, even down to the apple varieties. And I especially loved your reading. This was definitely worth waiting to read & hear – so glad you threw your (witch’s) hat into the cauldron!
Thanks, Patricia. I am so glad you understood all the puns/wordplay.
Love the wordplay: especially the apple varieties and “check the spell.” You concocted a terrific brew!
Buffy, I am so glad you enjoyed all the geeky word play!
I love it Joanna. (And, I recall you asking me about embedding video over the summer. I’m not sure WP allows it directly from its uploads. I’m sending you a link via email. I always post on Vimeo or YouTube and it will embed. WP has a whitelist of sites for embeds.) Loved the video and it’s an easy click to watch it. Hope you have a Halloween adventure this weekend.
Yay, thanks so much for the email. It worked and is much simpler than the plugin I was trying to use!
Yay! Glad it worked.
Love this, Joanna! Sharing on FB. 🙂 And let us know if you’re a finalist so we can vote!
Thanks so much for the support, Donna!
Ha! You’re right, the accent is essential.
Indeed!
Luv’ yer eloquent tellin’, lass! Lang may yer lum reek.
Aw, thanks, Lassie!
Love it Joanna! Unfortunately, reading yours made me realize I totally used LAST YEAR’s words! ACKKKK!
Ack, no!
Really great language, Joanna! Loved the essential Scottish accent 😀
Thank you, Penny!
Oh, terrific, terrific!!! I had some advance notice about the puns, but I got most of them. The Scottish accent and your reading add a lot to the flavor of your terrific poem. Best of luck to you and the others! I am intrigued. Glad the video embedding worked for you. Hi to all the other “March Madness” and other writer friends I notice here.
Haha, yes, I think you got all the Apple Mac puns!
Wow! Clever and fun, Joanna! Well done! And love the video 🙂 Thanks so much for joining in the Halloweensie high jinx and shenanigans!
Oh my goodness, Joanna…first off, I loved the names of the witches…what fun! And the video clip of you reading it with the Scots accent was the hit of my evening.
Thanks, Vivian. Yes with the jokes all being about Apple Mac computers, I have to have apples for the witches names!
Witches and brew, oh my! Lyrically satisfying and creative! Good luck 🙂