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the Keep

The Real Reason the Queen Hated Snow

By Annette Marie Hyder

Snow White's obsession
with darkness, with stains, with impurities
had her scrubbing floors and scouring self
until the cobblestones were bloody
from her knuckles;
her moonlight skin gave off a bleachy gleam.

She had no mercy for the cobwebs, the dust balls,
the mealy balls of matter
she rubbed her fingerprints
right off her busy tips
sent her imperfections packing
for some place called Normal Heaven.

Her wild wringing of washcloths
and brillo blasting bathing
are what really bugged the queen;
finally blanched White's goose.


© 2001 Annette Marie Hyder. All Rights Reserved.

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