Poem: "Baba Yaga and the Bad Husband"
This is the freebie for the November 1, 2022 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by a prompt from Dreamwidth user Mama_kestrel. It also fills the "fairytale" square in my 11-1-22 card for the Drabble Fest Bingo.
Warning: This poem contains domestic violence and magical violence.
"Baba Yaga and the Bad Husband"
Nadia dashed into the clearing,
saw the cottage, and pounded
on the door yelling for help.
Only then did she notice
the chicken feet under it,
but by then it was too late.
The door swung open.
Baba Yaga had a broom
in one hand, a dustpan
in the other, and a scowl
on her wrinkled face.
"Well?" she barked.
"What's the trouble, girl?"
"My -- my husband --"
Nadia stammered as she
looked over her shoulder.
Ivan wasn't there yet, but
he couldn't be far behind.
"Is he the one who blacked
your eye?" Baba Yaga said,
her voice suddenly gentle.
"Yes," Nadia said as
the tears welled up.
"There you are, you
runaway hussy!"
Ivan bellowed as
he ran toward them.
"Be off with you, lout!"
Baba Yaga said. "Don't
bother my new apprentice."
"She's not your apprentice,
she's my wife!" Ivan said.
Baba Yaga rammed him
in the crotch with her broom.
Ivan curled like a wood shaving.
"Now pay attention, my dear,"
Baba Yaga said as she drew
a sigil with her hand. "This is
how to turn a man into a toad."
Nadia stared down at the frantic,
croaking toad that had once
been her husband Ivan.
"I want to learn how
to do that too!" she said.
"Very well," said Baba Yaga.
She waved a hand, breaking
the spell. "Focus your feelings,
that's where the power comes from.
Then trace the sigil just like so --"
She guided Nadia's hand,
and the panicky man
became a toad again.
One of Baba Yaga's hens
darted out and ate him.
"Well," said Baba Yaga,
"that solves that problem."
"Yes," Nadia said, and then
followed her into the cottage.
* * *
Notes:
In Slavic folklore, Baba Yaga is a powerful and unpredictable witch. She lives in a house with chicken legs.
Warning: This poem contains domestic violence and magical violence.
"Baba Yaga and the Bad Husband"
Nadia dashed into the clearing,
saw the cottage, and pounded
on the door yelling for help.
Only then did she notice
the chicken feet under it,
but by then it was too late.
The door swung open.
Baba Yaga had a broom
in one hand, a dustpan
in the other, and a scowl
on her wrinkled face.
"Well?" she barked.
"What's the trouble, girl?"
"My -- my husband --"
Nadia stammered as she
looked over her shoulder.
Ivan wasn't there yet, but
he couldn't be far behind.
"Is he the one who blacked
your eye?" Baba Yaga said,
her voice suddenly gentle.
"Yes," Nadia said as
the tears welled up.
"There you are, you
runaway hussy!"
Ivan bellowed as
he ran toward them.
"Be off with you, lout!"
Baba Yaga said. "Don't
bother my new apprentice."
"She's not your apprentice,
she's my wife!" Ivan said.
Baba Yaga rammed him
in the crotch with her broom.
Ivan curled like a wood shaving.
"Now pay attention, my dear,"
Baba Yaga said as she drew
a sigil with her hand. "This is
how to turn a man into a toad."
Nadia stared down at the frantic,
croaking toad that had once
been her husband Ivan.
"I want to learn how
to do that too!" she said.
"Very well," said Baba Yaga.
She waved a hand, breaking
the spell. "Focus your feelings,
that's where the power comes from.
Then trace the sigil just like so --"
She guided Nadia's hand,
and the panicky man
became a toad again.
One of Baba Yaga's hens
darted out and ate him.
"Well," said Baba Yaga,
"that solves that problem."
"Yes," Nadia said, and then
followed her into the cottage.
* * *
Notes:
In Slavic folklore, Baba Yaga is a powerful and unpredictable witch. She lives in a house with chicken legs.