By Pierce Strong
“How could we forget those ancient myths that stand at the beginning of all races, the myths about dragons that at the last moment are transformed into princesses? Perhaps all the dragons in our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us act, just once, with beauty and courage. Perhaps everything that frightens us is, in its deepest essence, something helpless that wants our love.”
––Rainer Maria Rilke
Hansel and Gretel
Daddy went out to chop some wood
Mommy–new mommy– was up to no good.
She didn’t love us
She didn’t care
She’d still kill us if the cupboards weren’t bare
We made it back once
cause Hansel was clever
But the woods were dark,
Real dark this time around.
We were lost,
But we were lost
together.
Deep into the woods we went,
Our feet tired, hope nearly spent.
I hoped we might just go to bed
When we caught the scent of baking bread.
I thought my eyes were playin’ tricks
When I saw a house standin’ on peppermint sticks
There was a little old lady,
Little old and ugly.
But That sweet old lady wasn’t really so sweet
Just cause we’re little doesn’t
Mean we’re treats.
We showed that old witch
A thing or two about tricks,
Popped her in the oven
And we banana split!
I know it’s true–
Daddy was willing to leave us to die…
…But at least he wasn’t gonna put
Us in a potpie!
Rapunzel
That came baby through
Swaddled and coddled already
Wrapped in a keratin blanket.
–The witch-doctor said it was a bad omen–
But she knew.
How could she not?
Hair is never the end.
It begins with hair, and the rest
Flows after.
It flows and flows
And flows and
the blood will rise and fall
With the tides and the moon.
Hide her deep in the earth;
she would still sprout,
Break out and blossom.
Somethings
You just can’t
Lock away.
A Wolf’s Guide to the wood
BEWARE LITTLE GIRLS OUT BY THEIR LONESOME
- If they are wearing clothes of crimson, burgundy, or rose, Exercise CAUTION
- if suspect is hooded, exercise EXTREME CAUTION
IF YOU HAPPEN TO CROSS PATHS WITH SMALL CHILDREN:
- Play it cool. (smile)
- Ask for directions (Then avoid the designated area)
- Ask for advice (Heed none whatsoever)
ENCOUNTERING WOODSMEN, PIGS AND GRANDMOTHERS
- Immediately scan surroundings for those tiny humans
- Woodsmen, Pigs (usually) and Grandmothers are only dangerous in combinations with small children, and red clothing.
- Woodsmen are dry and gamey, pigs often taste like construction,
Grandmothers are succulent (Do not swallow whole)
Beauty and the Beast
Every once in a while
Or upon a time
A beautiful soul
May gaze through
Into the looking glass
And find
A “who” they do not
Yet recognize.
Don’t be too froggy.
Don’t jump
too quick.
There is a beast staring
Back through your own eyes.
Or is it?
Indeed there is a beast
Deep in every mirror.
But sticks and stones are poor
tools to clean.
Curiosity it seems does a
Fine job at making things
Clearer.
Who then?
Why them?
If not what, then where?
Does it matter in the least?
Ask if there
was love.
Ask if love
is still there.
Would you not rather be the beast
Snow White
Poison in my throat–
Light begins to leave my eyes–
Still, I choose to trust.
Sleeping Beauty
Never take for
Granted the kind
Of kindness
A fairy may grant.
If you are to
Sleep, pray not
To sleep on
Knowing this
Pendulum swings heavy
And full to both sides.
The fairies, they do
Not care much for excuses.
Even the mites
That burrow deep in
Their brows have
Hibernated more winters
Than neolithic coal which
Have since turned to
Karats.
The blessings they bestow,
Like magic
Without the poofs and puffs
Of smoke,
Are but goodie bags.
The fountain
Of gold: A sweet
Wrapped in tinsel.
The curse reversed:
A plastic kazoo.
And the slap on
The wrist for
A poorly planned
Party, may quickly
Become a century-long
time-out.
Cinderella
To anyone and everyone
Who has spent their days knelt in the dust and ash,
Curled up, trying to keep warm in this
frigid blizzard of a home.
You may know the grief I feel.
Our mothers have already strayed
Too far from the hearth,
Their hearts growing colder with each step.
Our sisters–who mistake the gleam of ice
In mother’s breast for the twinkle of
The northern star, or a diamond on the
Queen’s frail finger–follow suite until
It is too late.
Some may think the ember throne
Is my sentence,
to be commuted in
Glass.
You and I know this
Perch among the burnt
Is my last vestige of
Hope.
To lose my humility
Is to lose my humanity,
Mother I will not.
abandon you,
I will not lose the hearth.
Bluebeard
Has there ever been
So great a sin
As to be a woman
Wanting to live in
Equality?
Please just find a man
And he will make a plan
To build you up and break
You out of that damn
Curiosity.
For there will be a door
Oh, there will always be a door
Locked away,
To be entered nevermore…
…But here is the key.
The Happy Prince
Oh little swallow
Your heart so tender,
Soft and searching for love.
Once,
a lifetime ago
I lived in bliss
where ‘twas folly to be wise.
Today I can see the struggles of my kindred.
To see is not enough
To witness is nothing if
action is shackled behind
bars of plated gold.
So take my eyes,
Little swallow,
Peck them and place them
Down in the hands of those
Who need them most.
So take my skin
Little swallow,
Flay it from my flesh
And leave not a single fleck
Serve it to the starving.
I can hear them still.
Oh little swallow
Winter has come,
The frost is here.
Sleep now.
This time I
Will bring word,
So that you, noble swallow,
May wake in
Warmer weather.
