10.24.2011

The Halloween Tree

Sly does it, Tiptoe catspaws.  Slide and creep.
But why? What for? How? Who? When!
Where did it all begin? 
'You don't know, do you?'
asks Carapace Clavicle Moundshroud 
climbing out under a pile of leaves under 
the Halloween Tree.
'You don't REALLY know!'
The stars they turn, the candles burn
And the mouse-leaves scurry on the 

cold wind borne,
And a mob of smiles shine down on thee 

From the gourds hung high on the Halloween Tree.
The smile of the Witch, and the smile of the Cat, 
The smile of the Beast, the smile of the Bat,
The smile of the Reaper taking his fee,  

All cut and glimmer on the Halloween Tree... 

© 1972 Ray Bradbury 



5 comments:

Art Collector's Corner said...

You are so talented!!!
You might want to check out the International Illustration Showcase hosted by International Art Guide - www.InternationalArtGuide.com

MsMysterioso said...

Beautiful work! Very magical.

Anonymous said...

i really find very difficult to describe. If these illustrations represent the paragraphs from the book*, then why does the top illustration shows red riding hood with her dog encountered by a faun? That couldn't be Mr.Tumnus from the Narnia stories? a.k.a (The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe). Not to mention the Wolf in the distance of the picture (if that is "Tall, Dark, Big Bad Wolf Granny himself") and a white dove or maybe a snowhite bird, maybe the same bird from Hansel & Gretel. You know the one that led them to the Witch's gingerbread house? Well in any case i find it irresistibly stunning, mysterious, and beautifully creepy. It definitely describes alittle about "The Halloween Tree" or in your view, alot* Cuddos*

PS: is that also the yellow brick road their on top of? if so then either this is a fairytale world brought all together incuded the magic world stories, or few fairytale characters were incidentely transported to 0Z* Thank You*

Elizabeth Sayles said...

The illustrations were for other projects not actually for this poem, but I thought they had a Halloween mood. Yes, the one on top is a mashed-up fairy tale with Dorothy as Little Red Riding Hood meeting a faun, who may even be Mr. Tumnus. (I love "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe"!) The original pieces (there were 4 of them) were created for a financial services client. If you scroll to the bottom of the blog you will see 2 more. Thanks.

Random York said...

Very nice, very nice , very nice!
Happy Halloween!

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