The Fairy Godmother-in-law

by Oliver Herford

She dreams beneath lamplight pale,

Like Beauty in the fairy-tale

Of Messrs. Grimm.

And as I gaze, behold, a Thing,

A shape, a face white, menacing,

Hangs o’er her ’mid a ghostly ring

Of figures dim.

Now o’er the figures dark I see

A hand which moves relentlessly,

Remorseless, black.