Fantasy Poem "Peg Powler"

Here's another poem that appeared in my now out-of-print poetry collection: "Peg Powler", originally published Dec 2008 in Issue 316 of Bewildering Stories and also  published in the Jun/Jul 2011 Issue of the webzine Aphelion and in Aphelion: The Best of 2011, Feb 2012.

Peg Powler

Beware the river, children,
For there Peg Powler resides,
With tangled weeds in her hair,
Putrid slime upon her lips,
And fell hunger in her eyes.

Beware the waters, children,
For they echo the rumble
Of Peg's bottomless belly.
Streamside reeds rustle and sway,
Then clatter as she cackles.

Beware the slick banks, children,
For beyond the grassy verge
Where green foam mingles with mud
The ravenous hag awaits
One clumsy move, one false step.

Beware Peg's home, my children,
Or risk a watery death.
Wander too close to the edge
Taloned hands might drag you down
And in Peg's arms you will drown.