Bumbletrain

This is slightly different, un-cropped version of the bumbleland train I put up on my website last week.

The Elfop Journey

This is a poem for children I have written called The Elflop Journey, accompanied by an Elflop. I am currently creating artwork for a full Elflop Journey children's book, but as it is a work in progress i thought i'd post the text up here to see what people think. So naturally, any feedback is welcomed and greatly appreciated. Tweet me, yeh?

The Elflop Journey

The Elflops arose bright and early

For a tragic Elflop journey.

Yesterday had delivered a wonderful test

To set out on a wild and dangerous quest.

A magic, tragic Elflop journey

They'd spent all evening preparing the group

The mothers made handles, the fathers made soup

They made fast the doors of the yeldensaur coop.

Prepared and ready for a magic, tragic Elflop journey

The children excited all laid out their things

The norbluff was clipped of it's troublesome wings

Milk was tossed for the good luck it brings

And the Pleebrook was gagged as it smells when it sings.

Stable and steady, prepared and ready for a magic, tragic Elflop journey.

They had set their alarms and rode out at dawn

With courage mustered, their shields drawn

To realise later with faces forlorn

They'd left behind fimo, who'd only be born

To Harry and Flarry that very same morn.

Forgetful but stable and steady, prepared and ready for a magic, tragic Elflop journey.

The Elflops ran on with haste in their hearts

Their satchels were bulging with fonberry tarts

They'd loaded their flot-geese in wonky old carts

The flot-geese were flustered and driven to farts

Which ruined the ten minute pit stop for darts

As they'd ran out of fancy new spray at the marts.

Fetid, forgetful but stable and steady, prepared and ready for a magic, tragic Elflop journey.

They passed through the valleys of Quondicewell pine

And remarked at the top that the views were divine

Up potty tor and the sewage incline,

Where the views were different, almost benign

They raced up the hill at the end of the line

Noticed they'd misread the last but one sign

So they turned back around, how the young ones did whine.

Downright incapable, fetid, forgetful but stable and steady, prepared and ready for a magic, tragic Elflop journey.

Bumbling on with their treacherous trip

They only had minimal rations to sip

When all of a sudden with a bumble and blip

The cart was teetering over a lip

It groaned and moaned and started to tip

It seemed the Elflops were destined to flip

They all went tumbling into the slip

And no one had remembered to pack the ship.

Inept and incapable, fetid, forgetful but stable and steady, prepared and ready for a magic, tragic Elflop journey.

The rapids were ruthless and rushing and wild

Each Elflop was scared for both woman and child

But more for their hair which was beautifully styled

Their heavenly lives had been badly defiled

Even though the river was surprisingly mild

And now it seemed certain they'd all be compiled

In lists marked as 'Missing' and rapidly filed

In disorganised systems with badly made piles

Not one of them laughed or remembered to smile.

Inept they wept, downright incapable, fetid, forgetful but stable and steady, prepared and ready for a magic, tragic Elflop journey.

Why on earth did we first set out?

To the elders enquired a curious lout

“Shut up and keep swimming!” they'd turn back and shout

So he carried on paddling with a whine and a pout

The truth is the Elflops were fleeing a drought

The seasonal crops had failed to sprout

And the fisherman didn't bring back any trout

Returning to shore with terrible gout

They all became worried and driven to doubt

So at least now we know what this journey's about.

Hungry they were, Inept they wept, downright incapable, fetid, forgetful but stable and steady, prepared and ready for a magic, tragic Elflop journey.

The Elflops dragged themselves out of the fjord

To an ancient cave, with an ancient Lord

He was highly respected and somewhat adored

But when they arrived they were dreadfully bored

He had a penchant for sandlewood swords

And showed his collection of decorative gourds

And his seven sick wives, all of them Maude.

He didn't care for the plight of the horde

And out of the cave' the Elfops poured

They felt out of place and somewhat ignored

They regretted the fact that they'd ever explored.

Forgotton by Sir, hungry they were, inept they wept, downright incapable, fetid, forgetful but stable and steady, prepared and ready for a magic, tragic Elflop journey.

So remember on setting out from your home

There's not always somewhere better to roam

It's true the world is a wonderful place

You don't have to look hard for a friendly face

But for some a life on the road is wrong

We don't all yearn for a travelling song

The Elflops learned

And you might in turn

That the place you once left is the place you belong.

First Aid Kit

Through the wonder that is twitter i ended up doing a small (that turned rather elaborate) piece for Amelia's Magazine, to go alongside an interview with First Aid Kit, two singers from Sweden. The article is HERE, the image is below...

New Website

I have a new website! still michaeljulings.com New work will be up soon, watch both this space and that one. Simultaneously.

michaeljulings.com