To-morrow I Cease To Be Human by Peter Devonald

A large tree in the middle of green woodland. Large white text reads: To-Morrow I Cease To Be Human. Smaller text reads: Discussing disabled characters in fairy tales and folklore.

Pinocchio was born into poverty in desperately bleak times,
he was the eldest of ten children, half human, half scavenger,
always battling illness and hunger, barely living, just surviving,
on a long narrow street which didn’t allow natural sunlight.
 
Pinocchio was forever dreaming about being made of pine wood,
so he wouldn't have to be hungry and thirsty all the time.
His angry ugly rumbling tummy gurgled and guzzled and gobbled
him up, all up. He longed for a blue magical fairy to save him.
 
Instead, he was sent far, far away, to ease the burden on his parents, 
to live in a village with his mother’s family. All he ever wanted
was to see his mother again, to feel at home again, to be healthy,
happy and not have to suffer so many ordeals, over and over again. 
 
Pinocchio’s journey was full of terrible trauma, so much tragedy,
so much sadness, even the fabulous adventures made him sick.
The world was so beautiful but also so dreadfully ugly, it made him wish
all the more to be a wooden pine puppet living in a better world.
 
In his dreams he saw the magical Blue Fairy, who gently whispered:
Prove yourself brave, truthful and unselfish,
and someday you will be a true real puppet.
A boy who won't be good might will never be made of wood.
 
Pinocchio tried and strived to be brave, truthful and unselfish,
he tried not to wish for the moon, the oceans and the stars.
He gave so much to everyone, helped and helped till he couldn’t give
any more. Exhausted he slumped down, despondent and scared.
 
He felt sick down to his stomach at this terrible world, only in his
magical dreams of fairies did he see a way through, Oh, Fairy, Fairy!
Why am I still not made of pine wood? I’ve been brave, truthful and unselfish.
And Blue Fairy smiled so warmly and whispered, You already are.
 
And Pinocchio wept and wept with traumatised joy, sadly unaware that
whilst he was away, his family suffered tragedy as six of his siblings died.
Pinocchio was the lucky one to escape, to be free, but he never saw
his mother again, never spent one perfect day together, never was home.

---

With thanks to the life and works of the original writer Carlo Collodi, who’s original serial was Le avventure di Pinocchio: storia di un burattino (“The Adventures of Pinocchio: The Story of a Puppet”).

---

About the author:
Peter Devonald is a UK based poet/screenwriter who has lived with disability most of his life. He is winner Waltham Forest Poetry 2022, Heart Of Heatons Poetry Awards 2023 & 2021, joint winner FofHCS 2023 and second in Shelley Memorial Poetry 2024. Finalist in Tickled Pink ekphrastic contest 2024, highly commended Hippocrates Prize and Passionfruit Review 2024, shortlisted for OxCanalFest Poetry 2024, Saveas & Allingham 2023. Poet in residence Haus-a-rest, Forward Prize nominated, two Best Of The Net nominations and widely published including Broken Spine Anthology, London Grip, Door Is A Jar, Bluebird Word, Vipers Tongue, Voidspace and Loft Books. 50+ film awards, former senior judge/ mentor Peter Ustinov Awards (iemmys) and Children’s Bafta nominated.
www.scriptfirst.com
Instagram: @peterdevonald
Facebook: @pdevonald
Twitter/X: petedevonald