O is for Ogre.....

Ogres are enormous and many times, grotesque, humanoids found in the mythologies of several nations. The word, Ogre, itself is of French origins, one of the earliest references being a pseudo-historical account of Britain--- the term, supposedly, being used to describe creatures who lived in Britain before human settlements... most likely cave-dwelling Neanderthals (some believed to have practiced cannibalism).

These are the fairytale monsters of my youth-- I can still remember the Fee-Fi-Fo-Fumming, blood-of-an-Englishman-smelling, Ogre that lived atop the heavens-high beanstalk. He was a proper monster, threatening to eat the bones and all of that thieving brat, Jack.

These days, though, the only Ogre getting any sort of attention is the green-skinned, misanthropic hermit of a swamp-dweller, the one with the talking donkey-friend.

Ogres may be misunderstood-- the modern antihero-- but, were I to come across one-- even those of the green-skinned variety, I think I'd still give him or her a very wide berth.

Bless You Child And Count Your Bones

If you stumble cross the ol' Ogre's path,

be sure to count your toes,

the ol' Ogre's got a taste for young flesh,

you really don't need ten of those.

There's treasure found in the ol' Ogre's home,

though you'll pay a heavy price,

if you sneak just a pence, or a stale crust of bread,

the toll may be your young life.

                                                                                                              ---e.a.s. demers