//------------------------------//
// Canto V 
// Story: The Song of the Mandrake Queen 
// by Tavifag 
//------------------------------//

Twas dawn when Carrot reached her home
And softly shuffled in
She swore that she would never roam
Into the woods again

She snuck upstairs without a peep
And checked on Carrot Sprout
Her darling boy was still asleep
So soon she too passed out

But when she woke at eight o’clock
In pain and hating life
Her nightstand gave her quite a shock:
It held the Green Mare’s knife!

She loudly gasped in utter fright
Her body shook with fear
She didn't take the knife last night,
How had it gotten here?

But Carrot pushed fear from her head
And hid the knife away
With popping joints she rose from bed
And went to face the day.

She made some breakfast for her son
And took it up the stairs
She chatted with him one-on-one
To help ease all his cares

But soon she had to go away;
She had a farm to run
With mouths to feed and bills to pay
She stepped out in the sun

She tended to her tasty crops –
Her usual routine
She sprinkled water on their tops
To keep their lush leaves green

And as she gazed out at her fields
She prayed with all her soul
That harvest time would bring high yields
And keep her coffers full

For earning bits to save her son
Was always on her mind
But through hard work, she’d get it done
And put this trial behind.

She toiled for many hours straight
With countless chores to do
And as the day was growing late
At last she saw them through

But as she settled for the night
She heard a noise outside
And out her door she saw a sight
That she could not abide

Another filly from the school
Was standing on the road
And hurling insults sharp and cruel
At her humble abode.

She’d seen this young pink mare in town
And knew of her high rank
She wore a shining diamond crown
That also marked her flank

Her verbal barbs, so tinged with hate,
Were meant for Carrot Sprout
She mocked the sick child’s ghastly fate
And boasted of her clout

And up above her, Carrot Top
Heard Sprout begin to cry
This monstrous teasing had to stop;
So outside she did fly!

Her heart aflame with fury’s fire,
She stormed out on the lawn
She warned the filly of her ire
If she did not get gone

But to the farmer’s great surprise
The filly did not care
With hatred gleaming in her eyes
She mocked the simple mare

Her country bumpkin life was sad
And what was even more
She raised her child without a dad –
She clearly was a whore!

But worst of all was Carrot’s shame
When it was cruelly said
That she deserved to take the blame
When her poor son was dead

For had she planned and saved a bit
Just stored some cash away
She’d be prepared when trouble hit
And Sprout would be okay.

It’s said there is no crueler thing
Than harsh words that are true;
That insult had a truthful ring,
The carrot farmer knew.

So down in Carrot’s timid breast
The mare felt something snap
A rage-filled cry rose from her chest;
She gave the girl a slap!

The filly rubbed her tender cheek
And gasped in disbelief;
The humble farmer, oh so meek,
Was quickly filled with grief

But then the filly gave a frown
And cleared her throat to say
Her daddy owned the whole damn town
And he would make her pay

His legal team was up to snuff
For such an easy suit;
He’d sue the farmer, take her stuff,
And leave her destitute!

Poor Carrot Top was well aware
This was no idle threat
She lost her cool and now the mare
Was swimming in regret

She’d go to jail and lose her gold
To pay the legal cost
Her son would be out in the cold
And surely would be lost

But somewhere deep inside of her
A dark voice made it clear
She’d be safe if this filly were
To somehow disappear…

And plus, the Green Mare in the woods
Would want her soul to steal
She already would have the goods,
So why not make a deal?

She wrestled with that haunting fact
She weighed it in her soul
Could she commit an evil act
To save her precious foal?

In moments, Carrot's course was set
She cursed the stars above
Then struck her foe without regret
All in the name of love

The filly crumpled to the ground
Beneath her harsh attack
She dragged her off without a sound
And stuffed her in a sack

She tied the sack up extra tight
Then grabbed the Green Mare’s blade
And then she slunk off in the night
To seek the ancient glade…