Gulp, this is my first sub to the group. Hope I'm doing this right. I
may have to add that this is an attempt to write juvenile fantasy
poetry. Not having any kids of my own yet, I don't know if it's too
scary or too boring. Any suggestions or comments very much
appreciated.

Thanks,
Arlene


An Encounter with Echidne


She was wingless angel
behind clouds of trees.
Heaven was an arm's length away,
but my father's hand
stayed me like devil's leash.

He dragged me out the woods
while I slapped his deaf ears
with pleas, brought me
back to a brick cage
he called our house,

taught me to say
that my real mother
was that pale goblin in the kitchen
baking my favorite pie
as it had always done for ten years.

That night her voice called
sweetly through my haze of sleep,
unbarred the window with
chartreuse breath enough
to allow me back into her woods.

"Welcome, my child."
Her smile was home, the fangs that
glittered in moonlight were warm hearth.
Her embrace of arms and serpent
tail was bed where blithely I slept.