Witches of the Woods and Waters

Here are the thoughts of two witches, one who imprisoned Rapunzel and the other who made a deal with the Little Mermaid.

The Vexing Hexers by Paula Gail Benson

Malignancy blooms best in darkness,

Fostered by starkness

Producing rage.

If fury rises to the surface,

Generated by an internal purpose

An impending eruption is difficult to gauge.

When my garden was invaded

My anger was abated

By an infant given to me.

I hid her in a tower

Hoping to keep her in my power

But our seclusion was not to be.

I lingered in the depths of the ocean,

Plotting with minions and potions,

Waiting ‘til the mermaid sought my spell.

But, magic comes with a price,

And mine wasn’t so nice,

Depending on the story you tell.

© Paula Gail Benson, all rights reserved

Planting the Path

The Root of Evil by Paula Gail Benson

            The produce from a witch’s garden is enchanted. A pregnant woman craving a rampion (greens, but perhaps the root vegetable) led to her newborn daughter being imprisoned in the witch’s inaccessible tower.

            Only the daughter’s song, led to a prince’s discovery.

            The couple created a prison home until the witch discovered them and, in anger, exiled her transformed charge and maimed the transgressor, shoving him from the tower so he was blinded by the thorn bed she cultivated below.

            Guided by sound, he wandered. Then, once again, he heard his beloved’s song, this time as a lullaby for their twins.

© Paula Gail Benson, all rights reserved