Poisoned Apples: Poems for You, My Pretty by Christine Heppermann

 It's National Poetry month. Time to kick into high gear, dust off the poetry volumes and get my inner poet juices flowing.

First up, no need to dust this one off since it is a new book, Poisoned Apples by Christine Heppermann.

All the poems in this slim little volume take a modern spin off the theme of fairy tales, so are charming, some funny, others completely disturbing, but all thought-provoking.

The book begins with a very sad, alarming poem about anorexia, "The Never-Ending Story" reminiscent of all fairy tales tat begin with Once upon a time:

Once there was a girl who wore her bones outside her body. 
Once there was a girl who thought bones looked nice...

In "Sleeping Beauty's Wedding Day" she has so much to do after the initial kiss before she gets married, in the end she has this reaction:

No wonder that hundred-year nap
just doesn't seem long enough.

My favorite, "Prince Charming" is about a boy who arrives for his date. He is kind to the girl's mother, jokes with the girl's father, gives a small gift to the girl's sister, then says a totally rude, oblivious comment to the girl about the size of her boobs. I thought it was hilarious and read to both my husband and my daughter, at different times. Neither of them thought it was funny even after I explained it to them. Guess poetry is about personal taste.

I read the "SHAPE MAGAZINE Fairy Tale" to my hairdresser. It is a re-telling of the Little Red Riding Hood story but this one focuses on hair, face, and body fitness. The beginning is the part my hairdresser appreciated:

Once upon a time there was a girl who 
had a good hair week! Seven cute looks 
she could do at home, and their names were 
Waves, Bob, Bun, Bangs, Braid, Sleek, 
and Party-Ready Ponytail.

In "First Semester Haiku" there are haiku poems about the science project, another about virgin math (don't ask), and a third about art history. My favorite is about World Lit:

Jane Eyre fan fiction.
Under her demure wool dress
'Mad Woman' tattoo.

"Big Bad Spa Treatment" is a twist on Hansel and Gretel which begins with

YOU are the most important ingredient in the scrumptious day of pampering! 

and ends with 

400 degrees. Close your eyes. Feel the heat deep in your bones. We'll come and get you when you are done.

There are 50 poems. I enjoyed most of them and had fun sharing them

Happy Poetry month. Read a poem today. Do it for your soul.