The Lorelei Signal

Wagging Tongues
Written by Avra Margariti / Artwork by Marge Simon
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They say she’s a mouse transformed into a girl
by some witch’s gratitude or vengeance.
You can tell by the hair, a drab marriage of browns and grays
with a dress to match. Another indication:
the way she’s always scurrying about,
eyes oscillating like pendulums
between streets and coaches, horses and passersby.
And what about the cheese-and-crackers lunch
she always brings to her workstation next to ours
in Madame Seamstress’ shop?
She squeals when spoken to,
she eats among frayed ribbons and fabric scraps
with nibbles small but swift, as if she’s used to other rodents
snatching nourishment away,
and cunning cats lurking in the background
ready to catch her in sharp-clawed ambush.
Which is why we say to you with utmost certainty:
she is a mouse transformed into a girl.




Avra Margariti is a queer author, Greek sea monster, and Pushcart-nominated poet with a fondness for the dark and the darling. Avra’s work haunts publications such as Vastarien, Asimov’s, Liminality, Arsenika, The Future Fire, Space and Time, Eye to the Telescope, and Glittership. “The Saint of Witches”, Avra’s debut collection of horror poetry, is forthcoming from Weasel Press.
You can find Avra on twitter (@avramargariti).