~*~*~*~*The Gashlycrumb Tinies*~*~*~*~

A is for Amy who fell down the stairs.
A es por Amy que calló por las escaleras.

B is for Basil assaulted by bears.
B es por Basil atacado por osos.

C is for Clara who wasted away.
C es por Clara quien se consumió.

D is for Desmond thrown out of a sleigh.
D es por Desmond arrojado de un trineo.

E is for Ernest who choked on a peach.
E es por Ernest que se atragantó con un durazno.

F is for Fanny sucked dry by a leech.
F es por Fanny succionado hasta secarse por una sanguijuela.

G is for George smothered under a rug.
G es por George asfixiado bajo una alfombra.

H is for Hector done in by a thug.
H es por Hector involucrado en una secta.

I is for Ida who drowned in a lake.
I es por Ida que se ahogó en un lago.

J is for James who took lye by mistake.
J es por James que bebió lejía por error.

K is for Kate who was struck with an axe.
K es por Kate que recibió un hachazo.

L is for Leo who swallowed some tacks.
L es por Leo quien tragó algunas tachuelas.

M is for Maud who was swept out to sea.
M es por Maud que fue arrastrada por el mar.

N is for Neville who died of ennui.
N es por Neville que murió de aburrimiento.

O is for Olive run through with an awl.
O es por Olive atravesada por un punzón.

P is for Prue trampled flat in a brawl.
P es por Prue aplastado en un disturbio.

Q is for Quentin who sank on a mire.
Q es por Quentin que se hundió en el lodo.

R is for Rhoda consumed by a fire.
R es por Roda consumida por el fuego.

S is for Susan who perished of fits.
S es por Susan que pereció de un ataque.

T is for Titus who flew into bits.
T es por Titus que voló en pedazos.

U is for Uma who slipped down a drain.
U es por Uma que se dejó caer en una alcantarilla

V is for Victor squashed under a train.
V es por Victor aplastado bajo un tren.

W is for Winnie embedded in ice.
W es por Winnie incrustado en el hielo.

X is for Xerxes devoured by mice.
X es por Xerxes devorado por ratones.

Y is for Yorick whose head was knocked in.
Y es por Yorick cuya cabeza fue martillada.

Z is for Zillah who drank too much gin.
Z es por Zillah que bebió mucho Gin.



Credit:
The Gashlycrumb Tinies 1962 by Edward Gorey


*~*~*


If you don’t already know, I'm a huge fan of dark humour. Macabre writing is an art in itself, don't you think so?

The Gashlycrumb Tinies was recommended by my pri EL colleague. She is this sweet young thing who loves literature and anything morbid. It’s always great fun sharing and discussing about author’s and artist’s works with each other while the rest of the people around us give us strange looks.

Edward Gorey’s twisted alphabet rhyme is brilliantly crafted. The rhythms of the language, the dactylic couplets and the huge illustrations (also by Gorey) simply drew me to the story.

As I read aloud rhythmically and flipped the pages in anticipation of what gruesome story the next alphabet could hold, I could not help but chortle at the grotesque death that befalls the next child.

I’m no child-hater but the blending of innocence and horror in this book generates much humour. I wonder what would happen if this becomes the next alphabet rhyme to be sung in kindergartens of the future.

I would love to come up with a modern version of the tinies. If not, one with a local flavour.

I will keep you posted if I ever got down to writing it.