The idea for today's poem is an adaptation of a fairytale. I chose the original version of Hansel & Gretel, pre-stepmother.
The Oven
Danna
mother at the sink cutting
strawberries,red juice
bleeding down white cupboards
her husband's children
fraternal twinned red-haired
girl and boy enter the house
grab handfuls of quartered
strawberries,emptying
the bowl while mother is bent
over her oven
blood-red juice stain their child hands
out, out, to the forest with you, pick,
mother says, handing each a small pail
menacing trees crowd
the bread strewn path
a bend reveals a confection-laden cabin
the hungry children eat without permission
an old woman burdened with greetings
and gifts appears
eat, eat, come inside, eat more
she says, handing each a porcelain dish
inside, a cage, a lock, an oven
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