from A Story of Witchery

by Jennifer Calkins

xviii

in which something opens

a little door opened in the wall

right in front of Emily
right where the foot drifted
right in front of the sobbing

and through the door Emily could see silk and cotton
in all colors and patterns
woven and stiched together in a patchwork dress
and this dress covered the body of an old woman
a tiny old woman, whose face was lined and red
and whose eyes were scarlet from tears
under whose skirt Emily could just see two red glass
feet poking out

and the old woman, grey hair piled on her head, arms
bare and flabby
dark as the wood of the tree
smiled through the door at Emily,
and the holes between her teeth glowed black
and she said

hello dear, I’ve come to take you to the doctor