The Hansel & Gretel Forest 5

5
the owl has alighted on the smoke stack
the ribbon goes down—
but

the house is upon them, just then
Gretel is nibbling away
running a quick flick of her tongue
around the red swirls
Hansel has ventured in
picking lollipop flowers
stuffing M&M walk ways in his pockets

she, the beldame, has donned a red cloak,
covers the blood stained arms
blue hair ribbon round her neck, neat bow
she is intrigued by Gretel’s latch bone
a skin graft magician
can smell the way they embrace blood
young and not tough but pillowy
she heard the chainsaw, the dog jaws,
the clamp down of the neighborhood
the phone call to catch the intruders
she has free reign should she just touch
a soft formed elbow
the interior of the 17 mile drive, hers
when a dog goes missing it is all the more cause for revenge

her appearance—
“my dears, please feast away”
startling in crimson, alluring at best
the hood runs deep, shocking violet eyes
swimming in black

Hansel at the window pulls off a shingle
an offering for their/his beldame
promptly accepts a bed, a loose button clasp
spit fire grill of pig, roasted rosemary potatoes—
a hard on is ensured.

The half eaten house has begun to mend itself
has swallowed hostess and Hansel whole
she leads him in by the crook of his elbow
a tightly sealed front door, molded shut.