In a bone hut made of young girls
resides a lonely old crone,
taking on unwanted maidens
who work as servants

Father took me there
to serve the Baba Yaga
to make step-mother happy
My presence a disturbance

The legends made me scared
She would break me to pieces
eat my flesh
drink my blood
add my bones to the hut
if I do not do what she wants

Weeping before hearth,
the mice offer to help me
for some food in return

Why would you do that
Don’t you work for the Baba Yaga?

In a manner of speaking
You seem kinder than most
so we teach you the ways

Given some gruel,
the mice show me what to do,
pleasing the Baba Yaga

She offers payment in clothes
rich foods
affection
if I keep working hard

One day father comes
while the Baba Yaga is out
He wants to take me home
where he says I belong

The bone hut is my home
The Baba Yaga loves me
more than he and step-mother
were ever capable of doing

He refuses to listen
says I talk nonsense
forces me to come with him
even as I scream and cry

Step-mother is not happy
says the Baba Yaga is a sham
punishes me for living
decides to send step-sister

The night before father takes her
I whisper to step-sister
about things she should do
to please the Baba Yaga,
giving her faulty advice

After step-sister leaves
step-mother mocks me
says step-sister will turn out better
please the Baba Yaga
more than I ever could

I sneak out and follow father -
needing to return home
missing the Baba Yaga
the kindly mice -
and take the dog step-mother mistreats

I see father reach the bone hut
and come out with a basket,
step-sister inside

After he leaves with a bone rattle
I go inside with the dog
The mice climb the dog
demand payment of fur
to make a nest

The Baba Yaga smiles
gives me a tight hug
welcomes me home
praises me for my cleverness

For the rest of time
I live with the Baba Yaga
help good maidens
trick, deal with bad ones