Poem: "Fiorenza's New Hat"
This poem came out of the January 17, 2012 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by prompts from rowyn and Dreamwidth user syntaxofthings. It was selected as the second freebie in an audience poll. This poem draws some inspiration from the fairy tale "Little Red Riding Hood," and features a return of Giacinto and his werewolf problem.
Fiorenza's New Hat
When Fiorenza went to see Giacinto
at his booth in the Fermo Fair,
she found him looking worn and pale
with dark circles underneath his eyes.
"You look terrible, Giacinto!"
Fiorenza exclaimed.
"Whatever is wrong with you?"
The striòs gave her a wry smile.
"You are as lovely and as honest as ever, Fiorenza,"
said Giacinto. "What is wrong is that
I have stayed up five nights this month,
trying to catch a werewolf,
with nothing to show for it
except for these ghastly bags beneath my eyes."
"Have you tried stalking him?
Have you tried keeping watch on his lair?"
Fiorenza asked, trying to think of the possibilities.
"Yes, but he is wary as a deer,"
Giacinto said. "Whenever he smells me --
which is always -- he runs away.
I cannot seem to get close to him."
The witch-son flung his hands in the air.
"He has eaten a dozen goats,
half as many sheep,
and one little girl already."
"Well then," said Fiorenza,
"if you cannot get near the wolf,
we must find a way to draw the wolf near you."
When next the moon grew full,
the werewolf prowled the hills
near the village of Faggiola. (1)
He came upon a slim figure in a red hat
and a long blue skirt, carrying a basket.
The werewolf sprang between two beech trees,
crying, "Now I have caught you!
I shall eat you up!"
"But if you eat me up,
who shall take the basket of pastries
to my poor old grandmother?"
came the protest.
The werewolf wrinkled his nose,
sniffing at the basket.
Indeed it gave forth a marvelous aroma.
"What do you have in the basket, little tidbit?"
he demanded.
"Pastries stuffed with spiced lamb,
pastries stuffed with cheese and olives,
and pastries stuffed with candied fruit."
The basket was opened,
and the werewolf slavered over the feast.
"I shall eat these first," he declared,
"then eat you for dessert!"
With that he swallowed the pastries whole,
so many that his belly bulged like a melon.
The werewolf licked his chops.
"Now I want my dessert," he said,
and tried to pounce,
but his full belly dragged him down.
He pursued the retreating figure,
only to stop and howl in pain.
Clutching his middle, he demanded,
"What did you put in those pastries?"
"Gravel and aconite,"
Fiorenza said calmly.
With a roar of rage,
the werewolf made one final lunge
and grabbed her by the ankle.
Fiorenza kicked him in the face,
but he did not let go.
Giacinto dashed between the trees,
panting from his long run,
and swung an axe into the werewolf's skull.
It shuddered and died.
"Cavolo!" Fiorenza grumbled. (2)
"Now I have gotten blood all over my nice red hat.
It is surely ruined."
"Well," Giacinto said
as he prodded the furry corpse,
"you can have the pelt to make a new winter hat!"
* * *
1) Faggiola means "beech grove" in Italian. This is the name of Giacinto's village. Italian villages are often named after local features, and this is a common example. Special thanks to marina_bonomi for the name.
2) Cavolo is Italian for "cabbage." It's a mild expression of annoyance, similar to "drat" or "darn it."