THE MYRTLE

Day 1, Tale #2 of Giambattista Basile’s “Il Pentamerone”

retold in narrative verse by Laura J. Bobrow

       read by Laura J. Bobrow

    There are fairies who wander around,

and some have their ears to the ground.

So take care what you say.

You may find out one day

that your silliest wish will rebound.

“My heart,” cried a woman, “is sore.

If I just had a child to adore.

Boy or girl, it could be,

or the sprig of a tree!”

And a myrtle is what she then bore.

She nestled it into a pot

She watered and loved it, a lot.

It soon caught the eye

of a Prince passing by

and he paid for it right on the spot.

She begged him to take special care,

“That’s my daughter who’s living in there.”

Though he thought she was ill,

he said, “Madam, I will,

for I find it exceedingly rare.”