Fiction, poetry, art, music, theatre, film, mixed-media and cross-genre arts inspired by myth and folk tales.
"Once Upon a Time," She Said
by Jane Yolen
"Once upon a time," she said,
and the world began anew:
a vee of geese flew by,
plums roasting in their breasts;
a vacant-eyed princess
sat upon a hillock of glass;
a hut strolled through a tangled wood,
the nails on its chickenfeet
blackened and hard as coal;
a horse's head proclaimed advice
from the impost of an arch;
one maiden spoke in toads,
another in pearls,
and a third with the nightingale's voice.
If you ask me,
I would have to say
all the world's magic
comes directly from the mouth.
Instructions
by Neil Gaiman
Touch the wooden gate in the wall you never
saw before.
Say "please" before you open the latch,
go through,
walk down the path.
A red metal imp hangs from the green-painted
front door,
as a knocker,
do not touch it; it will bite your fingers.
Walk through the house. Take nothing. Eat
nothing.
However, if any creature tells you that it hungers,
feed it.
If it tells you that it is dirty,
clean it.
If it cries to you that it hurts,
if you can,
ease its pain.
From the back garden you will be able to see the
wild wood.
The deep well you walk past leads to Winter's
realm;
there is another land at the bottom of it.
If you turn around here,
you can walk back, safely;
you will lose no face. I will think no less of you.
Once through the garden you will be in the wood.
The trees are old. Eyes peer from the under-
growth.
Beneath a twisted oak sits an old woman. She
may ask for something;
give it to her. She
will point the way to the castle.
Inside it are three princesses.
Do not trust the youngest. Walk on.
In the clearing beyond the castle the twelve
months sit about a fire,
warming their feet, exchanging tales.
They may do favors for you, if you are polite.
You may pick strawberries in December's frost.
Trust the wolves, but do not tell them where
you are going.
The river can be crossed by the ferry. The ferry-
man will take you.
(The answer to his question is this:
If he hands the oar to his passenger, he will be
free to leave the boat.
Only tell him this from a safe distance.)
If an eagle gives you a feather, keep it safe.
Remember: that giants sleep too soundly; that
witches are often betrayed by their appetites;
dragons have one soft spot, somewhere, always;
hearts can be well-hidden,
and you betray them with your tongue.
Do not be jealous of your sister.
Know that diamonds and roses
are as uncomfortable when they tumble from
one's lips as toads and frogs:
colder, too, and sharper, and they cut.
Remember your name.
Do not lose hope — what you seek will be found.
Trust ghosts. Trust those that you have helped
to help you in their turn.
Trust dreams.
Trust your heart, and trust your story.
When you come back, return the way you came.
Favors will be returned, debts will be repaid.
Do not forget your manners.
Do not look back.
Ride the wise eagle (you shall not fall).
Ride the silver fish (you will not drown).
Ride the grey wolf (hold tightly to his fur).
There is a worm at the heart of the tower; that is
why it will not stand.
When you reach the little house, the place your
journey started,
you will recognize it, although it will seem
much smaller than you remember.
Walk up the path, and through the garden gate
you never saw before but once.
And then go home. Or make a home.
And rest.
("'Once Upon a Time,' She Said" copyright 1987 by Jane Yolen. "Instructions" copyright 2000 by Neil Gaiman. These poems may not be reproduced without the permission of the authors.)
Books
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Heroes
The picture used for Endicott's Myspace logo is by Jessie Marion King (1875-1949), a leading figure in the Art Nouveau movement in Scotland.
The design used for the background of this page is by the great Pre-Raphaelite writer, designer, and socialist William Morris (1834-1896).
Both Morris and King drew extensively on myths, folklore, and fairy tales for creative inspiration -- as have writers, artists, and dramatists throughout history including Dante, Boccaccio, Chaucer, Shakespeare, Pope, Gozzi, Blake, Goethe and the German Romantics, Yeats and the Celtic Twilight writers & painters, the early 20th century Surrealists, the late 20th century feminist fairy tale revivalists, writers of magic realism and fantasy literature all around the globe, and many, many others.
These are our heroes, along with all the writers, artists, and performers creating mythic arts today and in the generations to come. We're proud to be part of a creative tradition that's both thoroughly contemporary and as old as story-telling itself.
The Endicott Studio, founded in 1987, is an organization dedicated to literary, visual, performance, and environmental arts rooted in myth, folklore, fairy tales, and the traditional stories of people the world over.
Please visit the Endicott Studio website -- where you'll find the extensive archives of The Journal of Mythic Arts, containing magical works by writers including Margaret Atwood, Christopher Barzak, Kate Bernheimer, Holly Black, Kevin Brockmeier, Emma Bull, Charles de Lint, Alan DeNiro, Carolyn Dunn, Heinz Insu Fenkl, Jeffrey Ford, Karen Joy Fowler, Gregory Frost, Neil Gaiman, Ellen Kushner, Delia Sherman, Will Shetterly, Gary Snyder, Jane Yolen, Catherynne M. Valente; artists including Thomas Canty, Kinuko Y. Craft, Brian & Wendy Froud, Oliver Hunter, Beckie Kravetz, Marja Lee Kruyt, Alan Lee, Virginia Lee, Iain McCaig, Charles Vess, Jeanie Tomanek, Mark Wagner; and many, many others.
The Endicott Studio is a non-profit organization. All money raised beyond operating costs is donated to organizations for homeless children, abused children, and children-at-risk. You'll find more information on our Endicott Kids page.
The Endicott Studio is run by:
Hi Endicott Studio for Mythic Arts, Welcome new friend! AWESOME ARTWORK... I like it especially the, "Fairy Tales, Mercy, Mercy & Snow White". Keep up the GREAT work. It's my pleasure to have you in my circle of friends! Cheers from New York. Rhonya
Many thanks for the friendship! We would be honored if you read and comment the new artist interviews on our profile!
SEX AND CONSPIRACY! Swedish punkrocker and painter Karl Backman talks about his art, and the reactions to it from right wing christians, pee fetish girls and conspiracy theorists.
MYTHOLOGIES AND LIFE! French graphic designer and writer Laurent Rivelaygue discuss nightmares and a road movie in bumper cars.
GRACE AND ELEGANCE! American artist Betsy Jones talks about geometric landscapes, happiness and the arts of the geisha.
