Red

With a basket woven brown, covered in linen, hiding goodies under cross stitched flowers She with the Crimson Hoodie, and a smile like cookies and cream Heading for the cottage so cute, and the walls pale white, the smoking chimney raising towers The forest so dark, and the path so long, Granny waiting like a dream The aforementioned teen, skipping through the glades, miles from Granny, four Her laugh so pure, and her stride so sure, swallows soaring high above her head She smelled the smoke of beechwood ash, as she slowed and tiptoed to Granny’s door And tapped with a knock like butterfly kisses, and entered upon hearing what her Granny had said. Her Hood slid back, and her raven hair gleamed, her Granny snuggled under the bedspread blue The lass placed her basket on the table and eased over to Granny, her arms open wide Her Gran silent and still, the girl leaned over, about to stroke her loved one true And when the scruff of grey fur peeked out from the covers, the child leaped over to one side. The deep gruff voice, and the teeth so long, and the breath so foul, and the growl The now-wise lass, her arms and legs akimbo, her eyes steeled for combat and pain She snicked out her blade from under the Hood, and sliced and diced the lupine creature’s jowl The blood sprayed like summer showers, and then the wolf lay still, to move never again. Soon she had found and untied Granny from under the bed, and made two cups of camomile tea Then, nibbling poppy seed muffins and ginger biscuits sweet, as the stench began to flee Hands washed clean, the sweet young soul apologised for her lateness, after she had deep buried the gory Cur “My Sensei wanted to see me after Karate class, and he does SO make my small heart Stir. “