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Tuesday, April 19, 2011

P is for Puff the Magic Dragon

Puff, the magic dragon lived
I dedicate this month-long challenge to children, with nephew Jeremy topping my list. Much thanks to the animated or more serious characters who agreed (or not) to conduct interviews this month. Sure, I had to promise them 80% of my profits, but a few are altruistic to the core. At least, that sounds good. Right? My point: Have fun reading this or doing something else. Give a child a hug today too.

~~~p~~~~~u~~~~f~~~f~~~~?~~~x~~~~o~~~x~~~~o
Robyn and Puff are sprawled out on beach chairs, yards from the shore, in a land called Honah Lee.

Robyn: Yah, mon. No worries. What's with the strings and sealing wax that Jackie Paper brought you all the time?

Puff: Little Jackie and I played secret games with those things and other fancy stuff.

Robyn: Whoa, dude. That's cool. Like what?

Puff grabs another brownie, glares at it pensively, then tosses it onto the sand. I really miss that kid.

Robyn strokes Puff's spikes. Sorry, Puff. I sure am glad you'll live forever.

Puff the Magic Dragon stemmed from a 1959 poem by Leonard Lipton. Lipton was a housemate of Peter Yarrow's when the two attended Cornell University. [In the original, happier version, Puff replaces Jackie with another child after Jackie stops visiting.] Peter joined Paul Stookey and Mary Travers in 1961 to form Peter, Paul and Mary. They recorded Puff in 1962. Thanks to this wonderful threesome for gifting the world with the magic dragon. Undoubtedly, he lives forever.

Posted by Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com
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23 comments:

  1. Ms. AApril 19, 2011 at 12:41 AM

    Loved Peter, Paul & Mary... and Puff.

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  2. Ellie GarrattApril 19, 2011 at 1:54 AM

    We used to sing the song at Primary school assembley and watch the film.

    Loved this post!

    Ellie Garratt

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  3. Rosalind AdamApril 19, 2011 at 2:06 AM

    I loved that song. I used to get really upset when the boy grew up and Puff was left all alone in his cave ;-)

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  4. Rek SeshApril 19, 2011 at 3:41 AM

    Poor Puff, one would think kids would be trooping in to see him but I guess the Manga and World of Warcraft keeps them busy. Good one.

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  5. Al PenwasserApril 19, 2011 at 4:46 AM

    I am so impressed that you've captured a different character with each different letter of the alphabet.
    By the way, I, too, loved this song when I was a kid. Even if I didn't know what the hidden (or maybe not so hidden) meaning was.

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  6. Margaret BenbowApril 19, 2011 at 7:00 AM

    I loved Peter, Paul and Mary but always admired Mary the most: Peter and Paul would be warbling away (If I Had a Hammer, yeah right!)--sweet, but wimpy-- and Mary would stride ahead laying down the melody with her penetrating,strong, wonderfully butchy vibe. What a woman.

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  7. Oilfield TrashApril 19, 2011 at 7:15 AM

    Puff was my favorite when I was a kid.

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  8. Bossy BettyApril 19, 2011 at 7:47 AM

    I'll be singing this song all day! Thanks for the memories!

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  9. N. R. WilliamsApril 19, 2011 at 8:07 AM

    That's a great choice for P. I picked Peter, Paul and Mary too, but a different song.
    Nancy
    N. R. Williams, The Treasures of Carmelidrium.

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  10. David MacaulayApril 19, 2011 at 9:43 AM

    that's nostaslgic - I used to argue with my sister about this as a kid - she swore it was Pop, I said it was Puff; needless to say I wuz right

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  11. TS HendrikApril 19, 2011 at 12:21 PM

    I always resented him cause he lived by the sea. Say, you didn't eat any of those brownies did you...?

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  12. Mary AalgaardApril 19, 2011 at 12:28 PM

    That song does have a sadness, but I love it! I'm humming it right now.

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  13. The Frisky VirginApril 19, 2011 at 2:36 PM

    Awww,loved this! I now have the song in my head. lol

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  14. Gorilla BananasApril 19, 2011 at 2:42 PM

    Puff must have puffing with pleasure when you stroked his spikes. I'm sure you don't do that to all the dragons, Robyn.

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  15. CheeseboyApril 19, 2011 at 3:13 PM

    HA HA! Awesome brownie reference for Puff. Perfect P post. I just wrote about the perfect post and you nailed it.

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  16. YvonneApril 19, 2011 at 3:49 PM

    Great! Now I have the song in my head!

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  17. MMA Los AngelesApril 19, 2011 at 4:28 PM

    I also have the song now stuck in my head! I wish it was still around- because Puff is one of those timeless classics that will never stop being great.

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  18. MarleneApril 19, 2011 at 5:53 PM

    Love love love that song!!! (How many of those brownies have you had?)

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  19. Rawknrobyn.blogspot.comApril 19, 2011 at 6:00 PM

    Well, they were chocolate brownies. I have been more "off" -shall we say?- than usual. In other words, Puff had most of them, but I'm a lightweight.

    Love you all,
    xoRobyn

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  20. CopyboyApril 19, 2011 at 8:47 PM

    I so remembered and loved the cartoon when I was a kid. Sadly I found out the true meaning later in life – magic brownies and all. Happy Passover to you too. BTW...made you blog of the day.

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  21. JudieApril 19, 2011 at 9:08 PM

    Robyn, this is such a wonderful post!! My children loved Puff and Jackie! Thanks for the memory.
    xoxo

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  22. Tony PayneApril 21, 2011 at 2:07 AM

    This was always on the radio on a Sunday morning when I was growing up. Good memories.

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  23. Baby SisterApril 21, 2011 at 7:36 AM

    I don't remember much but the song. I love the song. :)

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