Hansel and Gretel

Hansel and Gretel loved their tea,
They laughed and always played with glee.
Their father had a soft heart for them,
However their mother was the problem.
She’s nasty and sly, cunning and rude,
She tricked her kids giving them little food.

Hansel and Gretel were always nice,
Do something bad and they had to pay the price.
Their mother would whine and complain,
“Get rid of them; put them out in the rain.”
Her husband hated this, he was heart-broken
Oh what evil had been spoken?

Hansel and Gretel heard screaming and yelling,
Hansel saw white pebbles, and started collecting.
He had an excellent plan which he didn’t tell Gretel,
Hearing all of this was just so pitiful.
Not one wink of sleep to be had that night,
Thinking about this took all their might.

 Off they went deep into the woods,
Because their father said he needed firewood.
  Stepping over grass and getting mud on their socks,
On the way Hansel dropped the white rocks.
They walked until they reached a safe spot,
Their parents ran and left them to rot.

“Oh no! We’re lost and tired,” Gretel did scream,
“This can’t be happening it’s just a dream!”
“Quit screaming you’re hurting my ears,
I left a trail so get rid of your fears.”
Hansel said, “We need to make our way,
We’ll be home before the end of the day.”

A cottage appeared when Gretel turned her head.
There was their mother, her face turning red.
Their father saw that they were free,
That night their mother said, “This can’t be
tomorrow they will be gone,
we will set out at early dawn.”

At dawn their mother gave them little bread,
Hoping that they will both end up dead.
Hansel left a white bread crumb trail,
This idea he hoped would sail.
They walked until they reached a new spot,
Their parents ran and left them to rot.

The bread crumb trail’s gone, what bad luck?
This caused them to be truly stuck.
They walked and walked, they stared in awe,
Their eyes couldn’t believe what they saw.
Graham cracker walls, a frosted roof, candy everywhere,
A child’s opportunity was just too rare.

 

- Mark McKeowan

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