Tinpot Love
by Marcus Speh
Under the tree of the one apple, the Tin Man waited for his Tin Woman. He wanted to ask her to become his Tin Wife.
But there were a few things that he didn't know and they worried him and put him in a metallic mood: what was love? How would it be to live with someone else in the forest? Would he still get time to himself, chopping time, Tin Man quality time? Would there be pain?
The serpent in the tree above lisped in his alloy head that the apple would tell him what he needed to know. The Tin Man plucked the apple. It was a lot heavier than he'd thought. It weighed him down. It made his head hurt: suddenly, he knew so many things.
Holding the apple, he knew the answers to all the questions concerning man and woman not generally known to men or women.
Holding the apple, he knew the future of his relationship, he knew its failures, risks, potential traps, the derision, the defeat, and its death.
Holding the apple made his heart hurt.
He dropped the apple, put one hand over his heart which was beating rapidly and loudly, and the other hand on the tree to steady himself. This was better. It was better not to know. It was better to just go and do and see, not knowing, just going.
The snake, shaking its head, slithered back to its shelves full of books and dead leaves.
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Author's Note
Published at Olentangy Review.
The text was inspired by my (then) 10 yr old daughter's drawing, which she titled "Beautifully Mixthed Mythologieth":
Another version is part of a mosaic novel "Gisela" (Folded Word Press, 2017).
Other stories by Marcus Speh
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...chopping time... :)
Only chopping, not knowing. *
Charming, thoughtful, delightfully illustrated. There is a Freudian undertone I like in the writing of this tale, as if Jules Feiffer had collaborated with Aesop. *
I read this and my head exploded with spin-offs and grafted metaphors in many guises and shapes ... booom!
fave
Oh, Marcus, this is magical on every level, the lines so clean and strong and metallic..
Just adore this one and the ending is perfection..
*
I was wondering about the drawing that just transported me, and now I see. Your daughter Lucia is a darkly whimsical artist. It's perfect for the story.
oh the apple, blessing and curse *
A fine parable, sardonic and wise.
Less is more, especially when it come to knowledge of the future. This is great work, Mein Herr. So perfect in every way. fave - Mar
"The snake, shaking his head..." Ho ho ho. In a word, GREAT. A+ for the story, A+ for the drawing.
Jack, Please tell your daughter her picture is fantastic. A big fave+
Okay, hows that for power of suggestion, just read Jack's comment . . .
Marcus, please tell your daughter her picture is fantastic! A+ fave!
Marcus, I love the drawing and story both, how inner-woven they are, and it speaks to how much images inform my writing also. So endearing that your talented daughter drew this, and it is father's day here, so thanks for the timely gift. Fave.
Great writing, Marcus. Voice and form work well. Big like -
"He dropped the apple, put one hand over his heart which was beating rapidly and loudly, and the other hand on the tree to steady himself. This was better. It was better not to know. It was better to just go and do and see, not knowing, just going."
Yes.
I love this. I've always felt sorry for the snake, though, and now even more so.
This reads like a fable, and so much metaphor. Fabulous illustration as well, sir.
Holding the apple made his heart hurt. Indeed, what is more scary than having what we most desire? Peace *
LOVE this, Marcus. The drawing is also spectacular :)! *
Absolutely fabulous. Love the language especially. Agree with Beate about the snake -- a very intriguing character.
This is the precisely the kind of stuff that I love to read, Marcus. Plus, coming from you, BESIDES (!) being deep, magical and inspiring it is ALSO ...very well written ... ;-)
I could read an entire collection of these, and would esp. love it to be illustrated by the little Miss Speh. *
"But there were a few things that he didn't know and they worried him and put him in a metallic mood"
Really fine, Marcus.
"books and dead leaves" is very (intentionally?) funny.
*
Marvelous what you hammer together out of old nuts and threads, and it's great to be relieved of Hollywood's tin man, where the comedy made him dumb and rudderless: this one has the Lion's heavy heart up in the head, chooses his own way, and begins to look at the flowers. A fine addition to the library. Lovely! Thanks!
Really fine writing,Marcus. Mythical and magical and very thought provoking. *
One of your finest, Marcus. Love when you fableize.
You are a brilliant man, Marcus!!! So much to think about in this incredible parable!! "they worried him and put him in a metallic mood:" and so many damn great lines!!! ****
Wonderfully complex little story, layers deep, told simply. The serpent goes back to books and dead leaves. Faveroo.
Hahaha. Awesome. *
I love this. The Garden of Eden with a different ending. *
Had to reread this.
"It was better to just go and do and see, not knowing, just going."
I totally agree.
"Would he still get time to himself, chopping time, Tin Man quality time? Would there be pain?"
This made me smile. :)
your daughters illustration was a perfect fit for a great story.
so nice
Kick ass.
You chose wisely, Tin Man!
Great story & Great Drawing.
Marcus, this is a magical retelling of the Garden tale, for a magical drawing! I love it! The ending paragraph is especially wonderful -- such vivid, rich imagery. Congrats!
Yowza. Truly love this different tale. I realized I have been away from Fnaut too long -- I have missed your stories and everyone else's. I really adore this line:
Holding the apple, he knew the answers to all the questions concerning man and woman not generally known to men or women.
This, and the inspiration, are perfectly drawn.
I'm with the Tin Man on this one.
clever.
Retold simply--retold well!