The Tale of Little Red

There was a girl loved by all
the creatures of the wood,
they called her by the clothes she wore,
Little Red Riding Hood.

One day to grandma's house she went,
with basket full of treats,
she caught the eye of the Big Bad Wolf,
who wanted all her sweets.

"Where ya goin', Little Red Hood?
Can I come along, too?"
"Oh no, Mister Wolf, you cannot come,
Grandma wouldn't want you to."

She skipped away, going down the path,
leaving the wolf behind,
but he moved quickly on a shortcut
that beat Little Red's time.

He gobbled up her Grandma, and slipped
into a spare nightgown,
then waited beneath her quilted covers
until Red came around.

She knocked then opened the door, coming
into Grandma's bedroom,
"Hello, Grandma! I have some treats for you."
"Oh good, and none too soon."

But something there was in Grandma's voice,
that made the young girl pause,
She looked the woman up and down,
noting suspicious flaws,.

"Grandma, how your ears have grown and
your eyes so big and wide."
"The better to hear and see you with,"
the Big Bad Wolf lied.

Red came closer, and then she said,
"Grandma, your mouth's grown too."
The wolf just smiled, baring all of his teeth,
"The better to eat you, fool!"

He lunged for her, and Little Red screamed,
as she was gobbled whole,
Outside, a hunter heard her cries,
and swore upon his soul.

"The Big Bad Wolf's up to old tricks,
I would bet my life.
But I have an answer for him here."
And he drew a wicked knife.

Then hunter and wolf fought within
Grandma's little cabin,
The wolf snapped and clawed, but the hunter
with that blade did stab him.

He drew the knife from belly to jaw,
opening him up good,
and from that wound did drop both the
Grandma and Red Riding Hood.

Woman and girl were both relieved.
thankful smiles shining,
When next Red came to call, her hood
had brand-new fur lining.

2009 Poetry Survivor Challenge T-42