New poem from the Hansel and Gretel series
…….
How the Witch Got Started

the snow outside
……. had blocked the doors
they had already burnt ……. the curtains for fuel
the light outside was pitiless

chandelier crystals hung
……. from pink threads
……. at the widow

the only things left in the cupboard were
…….salt and baking soda

I love you so I’ll eat you up,
……. someone said to the mother when she was
…--…. little & the stranger stuck her nose
into the girl’s neck and laughed

she came out of my body
the mother still remembers her first sight of her daughter
……. yanked out with a gasp that felt like
a fist in the belly
……--. gleaming, red as a candied apple,
…….-- bloody as a ……. steak

she cried
……. with the children when they had to eat
the kittens ……. the soup lasted a week

Annabeth tried to hide some bones in a shoebox
in the coat closet, ring of dried violets, black scarf

we can have the memorial later, her mother told her,
right now we have to eat

the days were shorter and shorter
……. they had eaten the candles
some of the children had diarrhea for days

she would save her daughter’s hair,
……--------. she told herself
she would keep it in a locket for next time

in the end there was
……. very little difference
……. between sleeping
…---…. and waking

the children were too
…….---tired to move……. they wet the bed

she began to pray ……. they would
……---. not wake up

even though they didn’t speak
…….--- their eyes ……. blank suffering ……. made
…….--- her leave the room

afterwards
……. her mother found a spot next to
……. Wendy’s bed where
……. Wendy had started to
……----. eat the wall

……. she did not ask the children to do this
only she ate them ……. afterwards she knew
…….---- her daughter was safe
……----. she would never
…------…. be alone

……. she wanted to
remember their names
……. carved them into the
……-----. frame around her
……. mirror

how could anyone say she hadn’t done
……---------. her best?

if she were gone ……. who would take care
…-------…. of her babies?

in the spring
……. she was left
…….------ with only two

they ran from her
……. and disappeared into the forest
as soon as the snow melted

she never ……. saw them again
……---. she misses those ones the most

……. she knew they would
…----…. tell tales