Horror Haiku Club Prompt

September 9 - Rye Mother

The Rye Mother, or Roggenmuhme in her native German, is a truly terrifying field spirit. Either all black or all white and carrying a whip that sparks lightning, she is often blamed for turning the fields black with rot. The rot, now known as the fungal infection Claviceps purpurea, is responsible for ergot poisoning. The Rye Mother is also said to stalk fields looking for wandering children. When she finds them…

Art by Phillipp Michael Börner

---

Your prompt is RYE MOTHER.

Golden rye stalks sway

The old mother walks her field

Dragging toxic dugs

---

…she either forces them to drink the tar that fills her pendulous breasts, or bludgeons them with her iron nipples.