Martha Julia Agnes Adele

Martha Julia(ˈjo͞olyə) Agnes(ˈaɡnəs) Adele

By Ann Gordon

Part 2

“Oh, what a grand Adventure(adˈvenCHər,əd-) Day!
We’re near the Marvelous(ˈmärv(ə)ləs) Mushroom(-ˌro͝om,ˈməSHˌro͞om) Cafe(kaˈfā,kə-)!
Step right up by this giant(ˈjīənt) stone(stōn) shoe(SHo͞o)!
You’ll especially love their acorn(ˈāˌkôrn) stew(st(y)o͞o)!”

Slab(slab) reaches(rēCH) behind him and pulls out a map.
From a hidden(ˈhidn) pocket in his shoulder strap(strap).
“Let’s sit at this table and make our plan…
While we eat our stew and custard(ˈkəstərd) flan(flan).”

From the stone table on top of the mound(mound),
They peer over treetops(ˈtrēˌtäp)…no shoe to be found.
They sip their stew and eat their flan,
While they work on their master plan.

Suddenly, Martha Julia Agnes Adele(ədel)
Sees the street where she first stumbled and fell(fel).
“What’s that?” she jumps, making a spill(spil).
“There?” points Slab, “That’s The Artist’s Hill.”

They flip and fly down the slippery(ˈslipərē) slope(slōp).
To look for her shoe, but, alas(əˈlas)…no hope.
Instead they find a slimy(ˈslīmē) fellow(ˈfelō).
Banana(bəˈnanə)-like, and all quite yellow.

It’s Mr. Slug(sləg) having a great big cry.
As evening twilight(ˈtwīˌlīt) shimmers(ˈSHimər) the sky.
“Oh, h-elllllo Slab, I’m cryyyy-ing some more…
Still can’t find what I’m looooook-ing for…”

“Oh, Slug, please! No more tears!
Makes too much slime(slīm) and adds more years!
Come help us find this missing shoe.
We might even find what you seek, too.”

“Okaaay…Follow me and my diamond(ˈdī(ə)mənd) traa-il(trāl)…
I’m beginnnnn-ing to think I might be a snaaa-il(snāl)…
“So Martha Julia Agnes Adelllle,”
I’ll loook for your shoe while I looook for my shelllll(SHel).

Through the Trail of Hearts they weave(wēv) their way.
The Slug, and Martha, and the man of clay(klā).
“Sometimes my shoe lands in trees up high…”
“Okay.” says Slug, “I’ll keep up an eye.”

“At the Castle(ˈkasəl) of the Heart we’ve always heard
A Fairy(ˈfe(ə)rē) keeps a secret from the One-Winged(wiNGd) Bird.
But to make it past the Dragon’s Lair(le(ə)r)…
Takes courage and bravery(ˈbrāv(ə)rē) exceptionally rare(re(ə)r)!”

“Oh, NO! There I go! I tripped(trip) and fell!”
Wails(wāl) Martha Julia Agnes Adele.
“Shh!” whispers(ˈ(h)wispər) Slab.
“We’re close! Just listen!”
But Slug plods(pläd) on making trails(trāl) of glisten(ˈglisən).

They tiptoe(ˈtipˌtō) through the castle doors.
Creaking(krēk) sounds cry from the wooden floors.
They hear fairy(ˈfe(ə)rē) whispers of a wing turned stone…
And see a one-winged bird in the distance …alone.

The bird’s lost its wing.
Martha’s lost her shoe.
The castle has naught(nôt)
So what else can they do?

“Let’s head up high to the top of the hill(hil).
“If we don’t give up,” stutters(ˈstədər) Slug,
“We’ll make it still.”

A moth(môTH) settles(ˈsedl) atop(əˈtäp) the chimney(ˈCHimnē) of stone,
And fireflies light the way to the throne(THrōn).
Slug climbs(klīm) steps to the Fairy(ˈfe(ə)rē) Queen’s Door…
With the door locked tight..he tries the tree’s back door.

http://mosswhispers.com/2020/02/12/martha-julia-agnes-adele-rough-text-and-paintings-29-pages/