Fairy Tale Hive Series by Karen Robiscoe CHECK-MATES (1) I plucked Cat fruit from Cat tree– kissed Teddy Bear alive, and taking care, I trod on air, to Fairy Tale Hive. I let Cat down and looked around, ‘sought faces from a page, to my alarm my gaze fell on, the Red Queen in a rage. “She looks a sight!” I whispered right– in Teddy Bear’s soft ear, “and worse than that, she’s taken Cat!” (for what it wasn’t clear.) And though we quaked my Bear and I, we gave the Queen pursuit. Eventually near Tum-Tum Weeds, she jettisoned her loot. “You’ll pay for this!” the Royal shrieked o’er shoulders in brocade. “While not complex, my next move checks, by check I mean checkmate! And so endorsed I’ll mount the horse, kick L-man to the curb. I’ll chase you ’til– the air grows chill, and then I’ll smoke Tum Herb.” “To what effect?” I yelled in turn, past shoulders of my own. “You’ll soon forget– about my pet, because you’ll be too stoned!” Still, as the span between us grew, I felt a little shook. That’s the last time I—ever—try combing through a book.
To ascertain–those in the comb survived. Royalty’s a fickle bitch & given ample reason has often fixed the odds with tricks (a self-defeating treason.) With that in mind I opted to leave Cat asleep in Tree and took instead some day-old bread, for what you’ll later see. And thus equipped for dreaded trip Cookie Jar came with a Fearsome Monster –shaded blue— & Fueled by choc’late chips. Through the cells we slyly slid, marking well our path, with crumbs like Hans– and Gretel once, except–of course–the wax. The residue was everywhere! on chess board, Hive and more It covered every chess piece left, & even waxed the floor. We found wax trolls and waxen elves, most every kind of creature, the Bothers Grimm had written in– to Fairy Tale features. Maidens fair and princes, too, were rendered into tapers. Wickless, witless candles, now, Albeit honey-vapored.
FAIRY TALE HIVE (2)
We stumbled on what caused the mess, quite by happenstance. We bumped into that Witch who knew Regretful Girl & Hans.
Despite the chase endured last time in Fairy Tale Hive, I felt obliged
Her Pot’s to blame for all this melt, Cookie Jar accused. It seems the Witch
94 • bohemia • october 2013
forgot to shift, the tab that opens flues. Our only choice at that sad point, is fairly hard to post. We killed the Witch by bait and switch & fed her poisoned toast. The waxen Hive was left intact, the Witch —and Queen—deceased, Done in by wax & scarce known facts that Witches can’t bear yeast. MOTHER GOOSE OF INVENTION (3) As you’ll recall– last time inside, our Fairy Tale Comb, the Fairy crew was waxed like shoes, as was their bee-like home. Overnight– the Hive became, A waxy-taled museum. A motley lot– of author thought, impossible to free ‘em. The Princess Pea– was molded to, the legume that upset her. while Kings and Queens, were bright with sheen, and actually looked better. The tips of Bluebeard’s famous hair– was waxed to curlicues, And Beanstalk Jack, On his trip back– was stuck to stalk like glue. Rumpelstiltskin’s nasty mouth– was wide in perma-riddle. While Piper Pied in mimicry– had paused in his song’s middle. It took 3 days– of uffish thought, and sage advice from Cat. Before I knew– just what to do, with fairy artifacts. I licensed up– and opened Hive, to tourists by the pack, With verve and pluck, I charged ten bucks– to Fairy’s House of Wax. WAX ON --- WAX OFF(4) It’s been a month, since Fairy Hive—