Yellow Cottage // Madelynn Stoffle

Geo Wall 2 by Lesley Valerio Chairez
Geo Wall 2
Lesley Valerio Chairez // Photography

To reach your destination
travel exactly twenty-two point eight miles 
northeast of Pineard.
You will see a rusting road sign
that reads Woodsworth.
There will be a path
with large hexagonal stones
covered in green moss.
Count out loud each step
you take until
seventy-two is reached.
Now stop.
Pull out the lock of 
your mother’s hair.
It is very important that you 
keep it in your left hand
the rest of the journey.
Here you will wait until the moon
peaks through the tallest treetop.
Before you take your next step,
place a strand of your mother’s hair
on the seventy-second stone.
You may continue.
Do not forget to count out loud your steps.
When they are satisfied with the number
only then will the cottage be revealed.
The moss stones
will take you all the way to 
your required destination.
If they have deemed you fit, you will see 
an old yellow two-story cottage
with a thatched roof.
The door will be ajar, 
the handle an iron circle.
At the base of the door
place the remainder of your mother’s hair.
Do not forget the rules:
Don’t resist their song.
Don’t fight it.
Don’t run.
Now you may enter.


We swore on it with red
and now we are both dead
Come join the Woodsworth Sisters.
Where we died
is where you’ll lie,
Let’s make the pact
we’ll help your act,
Come join the Woodsworth Sisters. 
In front of the fire
grab what you desire,
Hidden within our music box
can stop all clocks,
Come join the Woodsworth Sisters.
Take the pin
prick your skin, 
Now let the red drip
we’ll take a sip,
Come join the Woodsworth Sisters. 
Now as one
you have succumbed,
The few the brave
lay in our grave,
Now you’ve joined 
the Woodsworth Sisters.


Author:

Madelynn Stoffle

Poetry has always been her strongest area in writing and her favorite outlet. Madelynn normally works with horror or emotionally eliciting concepts: such as love or mental health.

Artist:

Lesley Valerio Chairez

Lesley Valerio Chairez is a senior Art Education major