Here is a some more English work from Annie Parmeter, written when she was 12 at Moorestown College, St Peter. Tahiti is vividly brought to life with some sensuous descriptions. The Americans are perhaps a little of a stereotype, but she uses that stereotype to good effect with the humorous punch line.
Tamouré a Tahiti
by Annie Parmeter
A deadly hush descended over the crowd, a mixture of Japanese, Americans, English and Tahitians. The smell of beer and cigarette smoke rent the air, and the cicadas chirruped loudly in the moonlit palms.
Suddenly, out from an unlit grove, came the sound of ukuleles and bona wongas - like the sea washing and rolling on the shore. Then came the voice of a handsome Tahitian, floating on the air like the call of the sirens out over the lonely waters.
Then one by one strange green lights began to glow in the palms, as pretty young girls let loose thousands of fireflies into the trees; twenty young maidens, wearing hibiscus flowers behind their left ears, slowly entered the grove like blossoming orchids swaying softly in the sweetly scented zephyr.
They retold in graceful mime the folklore of their Paradise Islands. Moving through the trees, they undulated in harmony with the palms on the surf-fringed shore. Gracefully the dusky maidens placed their floral leis around the necks of the captivated audience.
The sweet-faced American matron who had been watching, enraptured, turned to her garlanded husband, and said in a strident voice, "Gee, Elmer, this sure was worth a detour." But Elmer was miles away in his dream-world.
A deadly hush descended over the crowd, a mixture of Japanese, Americans, English and Tahitians. The smell of beer and cigarette smoke rent the air, and the cicadas chirruped loudly in the moonlit palms.
Suddenly, out from an unlit grove, came the sound of ukuleles and bona wongas - like the sea washing and rolling on the shore. Then came the voice of a handsome Tahitian, floating on the air like the call of the sirens out over the lonely waters.
Then one by one strange green lights began to glow in the palms, as pretty young girls let loose thousands of fireflies into the trees; twenty young maidens, wearing hibiscus flowers behind their left ears, slowly entered the grove like blossoming orchids swaying softly in the sweetly scented zephyr.
They retold in graceful mime the folklore of their Paradise Islands. Moving through the trees, they undulated in harmony with the palms on the surf-fringed shore. Gracefully the dusky maidens placed their floral leis around the necks of the captivated audience.
The sweet-faced American matron who had been watching, enraptured, turned to her garlanded husband, and said in a strident voice, "Gee, Elmer, this sure was worth a detour." But Elmer was miles away in his dream-world.
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1 comment:
Lovely. Little maid dreams.
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