Kitchen Witch

Mom got the poppit as a gift
gingham head scarf, red skirt
muslin blouse, white apron
It hung from a string
over a gurgling sink
hands glued to straw broom
I liked the witch, she was ugly
proud ugly, beautiful ugly
a hag who held her head high
We kids swatted her to get her swinging
she was fun like that, never one to come undone
or shy away from executing a full flip
A good luck charm? I doubt it
more gimmick than vibe
no magic spells in that kitchen
Until the day a neighbor boy
called our family crone dicknose
and I sucker-punched him in the gut
Doubled him over as the sorceress whooped
cackled, tipped up her broom
flew higher and higher
Crashed window glass into a shatter of stars
and disappeared
into the violet violence of night