Instructions for Disappearing
for the "Instructions of Disappearing" Summer Writing Challenge Series
If you seek to vanish, child,
come to the woodlands where fairies rhyme.
Walk widdershins and don’t look back,
be careful for your wish they grant.
Find the ring where mushrooms grow,
step in thrice but nevermore.
Speak your wish in sugar-coat,
Whisper secrets wrapped in thyme.
One for sorrow, two for spite,
Three to twist the world just right.
Ask to trade, and trade you shall—
But not for what you meant at all.
Shard of bone, a drop of red —
that's your toll to seal their pact.
When the world wears nettle hue,
catch the wind that howls through you.
The forest knows — the circle keeps,
and what you sow, the twilight reaps.
If you’ve heard and still you seek,
then mark the moss and mind your speak.
With each line you now recite,
you take one step into their night.
So turn around and spit behind,
unless you seek to vanish, child.
~~~
🕯️ NOTE:
I wrote this cursed manual —a poem disguised as help that meant to ensnare the uncareful — as the extension of another story I wrote for "The Summer That Wasn't" challenge.
This children's rhyme could explain what happened in the forest in the story, "The summer that never ended" and why things turned out the way they did. You never know with fairy bargains and they consequences.
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More stories from Imola Tóth and writers in Poets and other communities.
#3
Fingers reach towards ceiling like thin beacons, palms outstretched, fake smile. This haiku is one of the few surviving ones I wrote when I first started to write poetry. (The others got lost on floppy disks and notebooks my mum threw out.) I used to give them numbers as titles, this was the third I've ever written. I don't really remember why.
By Imola Tóth6 months ago in Poets
Comments (16)
Very well done! 🩷
⚡💙⚡
Congratulations, Imola, on your win! I love the forest and faery appeal. This feels magickal while lending a hand to a mindful existence. Fae are tricky little beings, commanding respect and urging us to be careful what we wish for. Stunning work!!!
Wooohooooo congratulations on your win! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
Congrats on Runner Up in the Challenge! Well deserved!
I was so happy to see this piece recognized. Congratulations on your placement
The thunder, lightning, and sudden gusts of wind rustling through the trees here at the moment make the whole thing super eerie! I had to make sure I didn’t disappear just by reading it! Wonderful poem!
nice
Haunting and mesmerizing at the same time. I loved every line. This so rmeinds me of the fantasy books i read. A desperate plea to look away yet entrapps the reader. I would say good luck in the challenge but I do not think you will need it.
Very good!!❤️
I felt like I was standing in an enchanted forest. Such a magical poem of instructions.
You are one with the forest, Imola! Haha! I love the theme you have going with the magic, fairies, and the trees themselves (inspiration from real life?). I remember you telling me about how you used to make your own witch potions, so I guess the magic was in you since you were little. But another great poem! ❤️
I loveeeeee how you connected both these challenges! That was so creative of you!
I feel with this year being so trying that I would be vulnerable and seek to disappear. This poem is majestic and intriguing
There have been many times when I've just wanted to disappear into the woods in hopes of finding some inspiration and solitude! This poem reminded me of that!
Awesome! I love how you tied the two together! Good luck with the challenges.