“the little house … was built of bread and covered with cakes, but … the windows were of clear sugar.” — Hansel and Gretel by Brothers Grimm

before each
discovered the other
had blood
and teeth
we kissed

to the best
of our abilities
from both sides
of the pane
brimmed

with the sweet
clear world
in between
which slowed down
thinned

into hairlines
shards debris
until one of us
moved in
the other

checked out
though
neither
was free
to leave

the haunted forest
the magic
the treat of being
eaten alive
and well

-Katerina Stoykova-Klemer