The Actualized Fairytale

It all began with “Once upon a time.”

We were quite little and drawn in by rhymes

Imagination promised to us so young

Yet societal parameters successfully won.

Have you noticed our heroes were always victimized?

Dressed in rags and poor, their needs minimalized

By abusive parents and spoiled succeedors,

Slaves coerced by their ringleaders

They find right from wrong as the stories say

Discovering magic and mayhem, find their way

To happily ever after, or so it seems

But leaves us readers confused to find our own dreams.

Do you know the stereotype girls want to be toyed and coddled?

Perhaps that’s from Cinderella acting as a role model.

Her beauty, the ticket to a better life

Imagine without it, the unending strife.

Now see that as the lens of girl aged six

The boys call her ugly, and her mind is fixed:

She can’t help herself, that validation

Belongs not to herself but to other’s consolations

And how about knights needing to be brave?

Why must there always be something to save?

A damsel, a kingdom in constant distress

But don’t confuse their armor, it’s a tunic not a dress!

So for a boy who feels a little out of place

Who is told to shut down his feelings but still face

That which scares him, only to find judgement where

Acceptance was promised, true to himself he dared.

We can say it’s the fault of wizards, goblins, elves

But true battles are not with dragons they’re within ourselves

As we venture through life’s hills, valleys and dales

We realize we have always been healing from fairytales.