Emily+Choi's+Canterbury+Tale

The Witch’s Tale

I once knew of a not so large[1] borough

Where often men heaved heavy[2] wood cargo.

One named Balin the woodsman, whose daughter’s

Skin and hair fair[3] and eyes[4] like clear water[5]

Were but nothing to her raised chin and pride

All others she haughtily cast aside,

Consuming herself in her own ill gaze

Despising another for many days.

This other was Lyn, and she lived alone

Planting herb and seed, reaping what she sown.

Balin’s daughter, Matilda, hated her

And hatched a scheme to make poor Lyn suffer.

‘I’ll hide in her home and make Father scared.

He’ll come looking for me to show he cares.

I’ll frame that vile Lyn; he won’t know better.

No doubt he’ll come in and then he’ll get her!’

So she ran, she hid, she found[6] a good place

To conceal herself without too much trace.

And so Balin came home one day and screamed,

‘Where is my daughter? My dear most esteemed?’

Upon the doorstep was a single note

Which read, quite clearly[7], like a wicked gloat.

‘I have your daughter!’ it said, ‘I have her![8]

I do! Find her now or find her never[9].’

Balin’s eyes saw blood[10] and his throat clenched so

Grabbing his axe, he practiced his death blow

Before he set for the woods where Lyn lived

And imagined the bushes her midriff.

Meanwhile Lyn was at home, starting to laugh

For little did men know, Lyn loved spellcraft!

Woodsmen who came by oft belittled her

Calling her lone self weak, and men better.

And yet behind their backs, she was a witch,

Capable of turning man to his ditch.

So when little Matilda came inside

Lyn’s crimson lips tucked upwards rather wide

‘I see you!’ said she, ‘sneaking to my house.

Do you wish to frame me, you little lout?’

Matilda became a quivering mouse[11]

And shook her head, her lips ready to plead;

For her life was so short, she said, and young!

But Lyn could not miss this chance for great fun.

‘I have a spell,’ said she, ‘to switch bodies.

How will you love to be ugly old me?

Oh! To be young and beautiful again,

Let’s see what your father thinks of me then.’

When Balin burst through the door, he saw Lyn

Who ran for a hug, much to his chagrin.

‘What are you doing?’ he said, ‘You monster!

Where is my daughter? I demand answers!’

‘But Father! It’s me! Can’t you see? O God!

It’s Matilda! Don’t tell me you forgot—[12]’

‘I know my daughter, and you are not she!’

Balin took his axe and hacked her to threes.

He saw Matilda step in from the side

And took her in his arms, puffing with pride.

‘Father, I love you,’ said she with a smile.

Her teeth flashed like knives[13]… ‘twas a sight most vile.

[1] Litote

[2] Alliteration

[3] Hyperbaton

[4] Polysyndeton

[5] Imagery

[6] Asyndeton

[7] Sentential adverb

[8] Pleonasm

[9] Repetition

[10] Idiom

[11] Metaphor

[12] Aposiopesis

[13] Simile