once upon a time there was a girl
who went into the woods
and did not come back out.
if you think you know this story, you’re wrong.
if you are the wolf
and you already dream about the taste of her blood
can already feel her pale flesh
as it breaks easily under your sharp teeth
you are wrong also.
this girl hides knives
under cake and wine for a sickly grandmother that is only a story
she wears red
because that way you cannot see the bloodstains
and because she knows
how the story goes
and she wants you to believe it.
once upon a time there was a girl
in the woods, but she was not lost.
and when the wolf (you) came
his (your) teeth were no match for her blade
and he (you) died slowly, bleeding
on the forest floor, while the girl smiled
and cleaned her knife on her white apron
and went on her way whistling
but when it came time to leave the forest
she found she did not want to
once upon a time there was a girl
who went into the woods
and did not come back out.
but if she ever does –
you better run.