New verse by Dunedin writer Emma Neale

 

Big Bad

 

She cried wolf but she was the wolf

so she slit sad’s bellyskin

and stones of want rolled out.

 

She cried lack — and she was the lack

so she stitched up sad’s bellyskin

but more wolf leapt out.

 

She cried wolf till wolf was all cried out

and up skipped those stones

like knock-kneed urchykins

 

to finger-feed her humble pie

smooth her voice like teacher’s chalk

soften her palms like baker’s flour

 

and those stones they smacked

their lips and sang,

yes, yes Miss Cat-skin,

you’ll do for the kitchen;

please, please miss Wolf-skin,

won’t we all do for love?

 

Emma Neale, 2017