Jane Arthur

The witch says to the woodsman,
‘Kill the girl in the forest,
and bring me her liver and lungs and I will salt and eat them,’

or she offers the girl
poisoned apples or sweetmeats.
Always the girl takes them
and eats

then falls and falls

and falls into that
heady sleep …

I eat apples whole –
pips and cores and skin,

leaving no trace.

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