Daughter dear,
with your tangled tresses
freckled skin, I love
your crooked teeth, your claws
that reek of rot, your breath.
Outcast you, like me
caved for shelter, I sing
with booming voice
for you, my daughter dear
of moss, of stone, of trees.
We cackle at the lily-norms
of fragile human girls,
pink-dressed glitter-voiced
a gem to break
by sticks and rocks
Daughter dear,
sleep and snore and dream
about ferocious forests
where the troll-boys tramp.
John Bauer
Today I host dVerse Open Link with an option to attend a live event on Saturday. If you want to use and write to the picture I have used, please do.
November 7, 2024
Björn Rudbergs writings 
Love this. The beloved descriptions in the poem warmed my heart. The image reminds me of my time in Sweden. I still cherish my copy of John Bauers Sagovärld
I think everyone who grew up with John Bauer will never forget those pictures.
such mother love in this troll song
“caved for shelter,” hit the high poetic note
Oh thank you… the picture led me there
I love the image and I love your poem, Björn. The descriptive phrases are so vivid and evocative, the daughter of ‘moss, of stone, of trees’, and the ‘dream about ferocious forests where the troll-boys tramp’.
It was fun to see it a bit from a troll’s perspective.
I knew a few gals back in the night who must have been raised by this earthy troll-mother. Well done and thanks –
As a troll-boy I am glad for such mothers
I didn’t see the picture until after I read, so I had my own image. Where the troll boys tramp is a great last line.
Thank you –
Even trolls love their children! Delightful, Björn.
I especially like:
We cackle at the lily-norms
of fragile human girls,
pink-dressed glitter-voiced
a gem to break
by sticks and rocks
Exactly… we often make up those myths… reminds me of a text in “Russians” by Sting
I hope the Russians love their children too
Yes, I’m sure many MAGA types love their children, too.
This is exquisitely drawn, Bjorn! The love one has for their children is unparalleled. 💙💙 I especially like this part; “Outcast you, like me caved for shelter, I sing with booming voice for you, my daughter dear of moss, of stone, of trees.”
I thought it was obvious in the picture, and maybe troll is a good metaphor for the outcast.
“Beautiful” seems not quite the right word since it projects our human values onto trolls but what they lack in looks, by our standards, you prize out the beauty of their mothering in which we are both equal, Björn…
And maybe in our beliefs about anyone bein different.
I adore this poem, everything about it. Wonderful!
Thank you… it is a lovely picture to think about.
So charming and delightful. I adore your poem, Björn 🧌
Thank you… I thought it was an important message.
This poem is wonderful negative view of the so called fairy tales. Well done
Brilliantly written Bjorn!….”that reek of rot”!
JIM
A fun read and works well with the prompt. I must have come across Bauer’s work when I was a child as it seems so familiar.
I too, loved ‘that reek of rot’!
I love your mama troll’s poem/lullaby for her little girl!
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HI Bjorn, I love your poem and this topic. I couldn’t join yesterday as I had a memorial services for a family member (very sad as the person was fairly young), but I have shared a poem I wrote previously for this great topic.
Love it!
This is lovely! Despite the language that suits the troll world, the love that you write about is universal.