Ray Bradbury Forums
Something Wicked This Way Comes

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21 April 2002, 11:54 PM
Vila1
Something Wicked This Way Comes
Hi all. I am new here.

I was looking for the poem Ray Bradbury wrote for his book Something Wicked This Way Comes.

I read the story a long time ago, and I loved that poem. It is wonderfully haunting. And it has been nagging at my brain lately.

My local library no longer has the book and has seen no need to order it.

Could someone post the poem or send it to me via e-mail?.

I suppose I should buy the book, but all I really want, (right now anyway) is that poem.


Thanks
22 April 2002, 11:52 PM
uncle
If you are refering to the " by the pricking of my thumbs something wicked this way comes"
I think that quote was from another author, there could be someone on this BB such as Dandelion, Fpalumbo, Crumley, Flyboy, or any number of regulars, or those in the wings, that could help you access that particular verse, my local copy is checked out until 5/11/02 so unless I go buy a copy all I have is the dust to knock between my ears till then. Maybe they could answer that one? I would like to know myself.

[This message has been edited by uncle (edited 04-22-2002).]
23 April 2002, 12:12 AM
firehrt
http://www.bartleby.com/100/138.31.90.html
23 April 2002, 12:37 AM
David Wahl
"By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes." is a quote from Shakespear's MacBeth, act IV.
23 April 2002, 03:20 AM
dandelion
Sure it is, but I don't know that I'd call that a poem. There was a poem on a car ad which used the line, but it wasn't by Shakespeare or Bradbury, just the folks at Lexus or whatever the car was.
25 April 2002, 01:18 AM
crumley
I'm not sure what the poem might be (without skimming/re-reading the whole novel). That line from MACBETH is fantastic, isn't it? I also love the quote from MOBY DICK that Bradbury used: "I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I'll go to it laughing." Inspirational.
Quite a number of Bradbury's works, like SOMETHING WICKED, take their titles from other authors' works; the titles of many of his poems quote or paraphrase Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson and others, "The Golden Apples of the Sun" is from Yeats ... and I'm sure there are others.
25 April 2002, 12:40 PM
fjpalumbo
"The Drummer Boy Of Shiloh" may come from poems and songs from the 1860's, some authored others anonymous.

I always recall from Dandelion Wine what the old Civil War Colonel (Col. Freeleigh) said to the boys about the name "Shiloh":
"There's never a year been in my life I haven't thought, what a lovely name and what a shame to see it only on the battle records."


fpalumbo
25 April 2002, 01:48 PM
dandelion
He'd be pleased to know there's an award-winning "Shiloh" series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor which has nothing to do with war, but concerns a boy and his dog. The dog is named Shiloh because it was found near a church of that name.
23 July 2005, 05:27 PM
elPepin
Vila1
Could it be this poem I found what you were talking about http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewpoetry.asp?AuthorID=2043&id=141019


Jose
24 July 2005, 11:21 PM
tammy
i love that story!

[This message has been edited by tammy (edited 09-07-2005).]
25 July 2005, 12:19 AM
Nard Kordell
tammy:
Have you had the chance to visit the 'NEW' Ray Bradbury website?
26 July 2005, 05:36 PM
tammy
no - everyone says that one is overwhelming and i don't adjust well to change. i will look at it sometime, though.
07 September 2005, 06:47 PM
tammy
I just thought some of you might enjoy this with me. I coordinate our town's Halloween festival and this year's theme is that old timey creepy carnival/sinister circus type thing and I was trying to explain it last night and it hit me that I was going for the Something Wicked This Way Comes feeling. So that's what we're calling it this year! If it ends up like I'm envisioning in my head, it will be AWESOME.
08 September 2005, 03:12 AM
Chapter 31
I love it! The best time of year is truely CREEPING up on us.

[This message has been edited by Chapter 31 (edited 09-08-2005).]
09 September 2005, 09:52 PM
mycroftholmes
Speaking of titles taken from poems, Bradbury used Walt Whitman's titles "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloomed" and "I Sing the Body Electric" for two of his anthologies.