Once upon a Time
women were small
and weak
and deemed useless,
deemed damsel-in-distress.

Once upon a Future
Women are larger than life
and stronger than ever
and Holding the World up,
the powerful Nasty Woman.

Trotting along on her red
metal pedal steed,
the ends of her red headscarf
flapping like a cape.
Scarlett searches for monsters,
her phone’s flashlight a beacon,
illuminating the sidewalk through the woods

She pauses at the crossroads,
going to console her
grandma sick with election disgust,
when a sly gray BMW glides up to her.

Hey, go back Home,
the man says wolfishly.
You aren’t welcome with the new king;
No bombing in this kingdom.

Scarlett, bless her soul,
flips a bird with a flick of her wrist,
the spell casting a shield around her
and she is off.

As the spell wears off,
the white wolf speeds ahead
towards the house
with the banner of the overthrown Queen.

Scarlett listens to the directions
guiding her through the maze of green.
Stopping just to make sure there is still
a connection.

The village comes into view
and the guide ceases to speak.
Scarlett hops off her bike,
welcoming herself into the house.

Nana what big eyes you have.
Nana what big ears you have.
Nana what big teeth you have.

The words fly out.
Her grandma held at gunpoint.
The white wolf sending waves
of anger towards her.

Scarlett poises herself to call.
They’ll only agree with me,
Long live the King,
The wolf howls.

Drop your phone!
It clatters, useless, to the stone.
Back against the wall!
It thumps, compliant, to the wood.

Stay!
The wolf barks.
Scarlett bends down to
let out the laces of her boot
and slips out her foot.

The rubber met skin,
the steel toe driving home.
Cracking his nose,
the white wolf fell
in a puddle of red.

She runs out
and finds the ax
and brings it down
on the white wolf.

Scarlett, the true
Woodsman.