I was born in the pit which hate had made a home
After mother’s coven was slaughtered by the king
The fool who refused to build her many statues
Who cast her down with fire and broken wing.
Feeding on prisoners’ blood she regained strength
Reading awful books made her powerful as before
Transporting us back to the world of foolish kings
I held my breath and fell through the icy door.
It was my honor alone to kill the young prince
Son of a tyrant who imprisoned mom without care
But I was a novice at murder and got separated
Until a poacher came with gentle hands and yellow hair.
I cursed my stupidity and prepared for death
Sweetly he fixed my broken wing and gave me aid
His heart that knew no evil kept me warm
He gave his coat and told me not to be afraid.
Mother hurt me when she found me dazed
Yanking me through the soldiers’ arrow hail
She destroyed the palace walls with ugly fire
She released the king’s prisoners from their jail.
I watched her cleave the king’s head away
Trusting me to search the perfumed rooms above
Where the trespasser who’d snuck out without permission
Froze in great surprise and eyes adorned with love.
The beautiful prince knew nothing of the murders here
Having just sneaked in from his adventurous night
So then I did what mother expected of her girl
I informed her how I killed this human light.
The palace ruins made stones for her statues
The tyrant’s crown sits tight on mother’s head
Now she will make this kingdom in her image
Now she thinks the lovely prince is dead.
This scarred world belongs to witches now
But sometimes I walk those woods with charms
When I give the all clear and branches break
And the man with yellow hair runs to my arms.
Matthew Wilson has been published over 150 times in such places Alban Lake Publishing, Horror Zine, Zimbell House Publishing, Star*Line, and many more, he is currently editing his first novel.
Published 10/31/18