sickly grin, rotting skin

cheer inside, but death they see

bright colors to hide the dark,
innocent eyes to trap the light

she was surely their demise,
for tiny beings they were, shadow looming above

but back! back now for she comes
lest the green be seen,
and the scheme deemed done

in fright he huddled,
for the creaks did echo

up she went... creak creak creak
wept he did, pale as a sheet

thud went the door,
a hole in the wall

she limped close,
screamed obscenities,
and off the cover flew,
to expose a boy blue.

belt in hand, arm raised in malice
smile on her face, skin stretched to the ears
down it went, and out came a cry

but not a boy

a woman.

silence reigned as he looked on,
and saw her there, cold and still

it tipped a hat, a grin at him
and took with it his pain
stalked those who would harm spawn

give its children another chance, a life without hell
in peaceful, blistering solitude

the closet shut and he wiped his eyes
belief in the witch high, life ready for a ride