Cottage in the Woods

once upon a time

in a land, not so far away

there lay a wood, so rugged and grime

no one dared look, no one dared to say

what lurked in the shadows

deep in the heart

no, no gallows

but a woman from a world apart

she lived in a cottage of candy

icing on the trim

sure, with a wand she was handy

but the tale you're about to hear is grim

sure, you heard of Hansel and Gretel 

and the witch who tried to bake them

their side of the story surely made you unsettle

but here’s the true tale, the witch was quite a gem

for I am the witch

hidden in the wood

I know my appearance will make you twitch

but listen you should

the children wandered around that day

as I was baking a pie

when I heard Hansel say

"come now Gretel" he said with a sigh

"I'm much too tired to go on"

Gretel frowned and pulled him along

"just a little longer Hansel" she was already gone

she enticed him closer, with a sweet-sounding song

Hansel followed her voice

trying to keep up with his twin

he knew he had no other choice

because her tactics would always win

soon enough the youngens stumbled

on to my little cottage of sweets

without delay, their stomachs grumbled

"this house is made of treats"

the children squealed with delight

with no hesitation, no thought

they went in for a bite

"My cottage" I cried, they had been caught

"why must you eat my cottage walls?"

the children stopped and stared

"the smell of the dessert calls"

Gretel declared

"we are much too hungry to continue back"

Hansel did cry

I offered them a place in my shack

to fix up some dinner, I do not lie

"how about stew?"

I asked offered the kids

"Made by me and you"

they grabbed the pots and lids

when Gretel did something that sent me in a fright

she pushed poor Hansel in

the boiling water roared with all its might

I turn to see her frightening grin

I grabbed my wand

did what I had to do

no, the choice I made, not even I am fond

I made her into something sweet too

her poor brother was hurt and burned so bad

he asked for his sister, when I tried to explain

I thought he would be glad

but he only felt pain

he saw his sister, turned into dough

shaped and ready to bake

he ran screaming, still with a red-hot glow

he went to town and caused quite a shake

the townspeople came pouring in

I tried to explain what happened in the shadows

they thought I committed this terrible sin

but nothing stopped them from hanging me at the gallows

so, this is the true tale of Hansel and his twin

where truly no one would win