Mother Holly

A compressed version of the old Grimm tale.

Frau Holle

Watched from her home in the well.

Wishes granted, wishes scolded.

Blessed be the kind girl

the industrious, intelligent girl.

Ever working, never valued.

She never held any ill-will

towards her widowed, mean

step-mother and step-sister.

The worst kind of women

The envious kind.

Frau Holle

Watching from within her hole

Saw the spindle fall

And with it, a girl

distraught and anxious.

A broken-winged bird

so delicate and frail

deserving of love.

"Leave them be,

You are better off with me."

Frau Holle

Grew fond of her charge

And was sad to see her go.

But the girl had healed

Her wings strong

She wished to return.

And so she was sent home

Covered in glittering gold,

Fitting of her beautiful spirit.

Frau Holle

Watched from her home in the well

as the girl was admonished.

Diamonds spilled

from the young maiden's mouth

as she apologized,

accepting the blame shoved upon her.

She was forgiven, so long as

she could describe what had occured.

The wicked widow focused on

only opportunity, her own goals.

Frau Holle

Knew what would come next.

Once again, she looked up

Saw the spindle fall

And with it, a girl

unsightly and unpleasant.

Her words were sweet

But sickly so, devoid of honesty.

Given a chance, but undeserving.

Frau Holle

Gave rewards as they were due.

Gold and diamonds came to be

expected by a stepmother so greedy.

The causes of a good girl's grief

did not deserve such a prize.

The old woman, disappointed

covered the second girl in pitch.

The daughter ran home, angry

at her step-sibling, who of course

must have caused her suffering.

Frau Holle

Had one more surprise up her sleeve.

The lazy, disagreeable, spiteful girl

could not relay what had transpired

deep down  in the old woman's well.

Toads spewed from her mouth

in place of words.

The two begged forgiveness

for their spite and their sins.

Their pleas went unnoticed,

shameful reminders deserved.