Winner of The Letter Review Prize for Poetry
Ol’ Nanner Vampire
In the Old Country, there’s a big banana farm.
One thousand and one banana trees, and a yellow banana barn.
Bananas over here. Bananas over there.
Bananas literally everywhere!
In the farm's yellow barn, it is much of the same.
Bananas come and go everyday.
Some may get eaten, or maybe they're sold.
Some leave quite quickly, but some will grow old.
However, there is one banana that forever, never, ever leaves.
A very special banana indeed.
His name is Mr. Banana Esquire,
but most know him as Ol' Nanner Vampire.
Ol' Nanner is not just any normal banana.
He's 300 years old. That's ancient bananas!
The oldest bananas only get weeks!
How is that even possible? How can it be?
How does he do it? How, for so long?
First, he hides in the cupboard, where smart bananas belong.
He doesn't get eaten, but doesn't he age?
Yes, of course he does ... in a very peculiar way.
You see, Ol' Nanner Vampire possesses a gift.
One that seems strange, but comes with a twist!
So when he gets older Ol' Nanner attacks,
other bananas that turn him young fast!
But why does he do it? Is he insane?
No, don't you see? He's really quite tame.
He helps young bananas that arrive way too green.
He makes them more ripe till they're ready to leave.
How does he do it? With cuddles and sleep!
Tomorrow, they'll all wake up yellow and sweet.
With good Ol' Nanner Vampire, on that big banana farm.
One thousand and one banana trees, and a yellow banana barn.
Adam Ryan Stailey loves to use his imagination. Go on an adventure within his mind as we explore a world of unlimited possibilities. Ol’ Nanner Vampire comes with mystery, suspense, and most of all … a wonderfully sweet twist. Go Bananas!