Snow Queens Invitation

Macabre icicles dangle from Winter’s chandelier, chilling the chamber of the queen, lachrymose lighting for dears. Children feel her icy breath against their cherub cheeks, shivering from shoulders to feet - she promised them treats. Squid tentacles, icicles from ceiling to floor, edge doorways. The children suck frozen pops — in summertime they’d make them smile but instead a chattering appears from the queen, ear to ear, “Eat up, children. There’s more!” Cold water droplets eek from the ceiling like scurrying mice landing on the tip of the nose and fingers, lingering too long, until icicles form, make no mistake — the storm is cruel! “Stand back!” an older brother’s armed with flaming torches. Winter is sweet for sweethearts, Morgan bells, hot cocoa, but this Winter scene is vomitus. Only one chess piece moves in this Winterscape. The older brother’s interrupted the nestle of plum-children in sleigh beds, so white and pale. Snowlids open, slowly the children’s limbs stretch and crack, melting like snowmen. Crackling’s all around, like a scream. Kids swivel their necks and find a warm cave, no queen. Brother scolds for a second or two, serves them hot chocolate. 12/23/2020