The Fifty Year Sword

Mark Z. Danielewski, 2012

(October 2013)

Did you ever read

The House of Leaves?

A story strange,

of drunks and thieves.

If you never did,

You should.

That book is fun

And fun is good.

Well, not fun per se

but very scary.

A haunted house.

Things get quite hairy.

And now that guy

has made more words.

This book, you see,

and it’s on swords

(And butterflies,

and death and worse).

And what is more

it’s all in verse.

The tale is told

By speakers five,

Plus one who seems

not quite alive.

A poem then,

of jerky prose.

With coloured quotes

and cheating hoes.

(Hoes is harsh

but fair I feel.

To turn a wife

to a third wheel.)

Of orphans saved

and death averted.

Of bargains struck

and fate perverted.

A pretty book.

Illustrated.

Artful stitching,

well located.

Fancy cover.

Unique format.

Slightly thicker

than a doormat.

But the rub, you see,

is yet to come.

Because when all

is said and done,

It’s a little strained.

It tries to hard,

the author hoist

by his petard.

And despite

The smoke and gore,

I’ve seen pictures

joined with verse before.

The garish threads?

A hangman’s noose.

It’s a grown-up version

of Dr Seuss.