Jacques, Cinderella's Prince

Once upon a time,

Prince Jacques resided in

A palace in France.

He should want for naught,

He was very wealthy, strong,

Handsome, and youthful.

But alas. he yearned

For the love of a woman

Who cared for him.

Not value his gold,

His bloodline, or his good looks,

But just him alone.

But, his father said

“What a foolish idea!”

“Marry a noble!”

“Someone very rich!”

“Or with noble blood in them!”

The King told his son.

“True love is not real!”

“Fairy tales are for children!”

“Now act your age, Jaq!”

Jacques did not want

To anger him, so on his

Birthday’s eighteenth night,

A grand ball was held

To find a queen for the prince.

Maintaining the line.

The ball, hours long

It lasted, filled with ladies

Of richest bloodlines.

With deepest reluctance

Jacques partook in dancing

But there was nothing.

No love, only greed.

Pretty faces, empty hearts.

Poised to suck him dry.

Then he saw the girl,

One he was drawn to, yet he

Had not before met.

Ella, her name was.

Prince Jacques was his, but she

knew that already.

That night they danced,

Dined and conversed about

The value of love.

She too wanted love,

Happiness, love, and kindness

She humbly confessed.

He smiled at her,

For he and she knew that the

Other was the one.

However, she left

When the bell struck at midnight,

Forgetting her shoe.

The prince felt grief and

Wondered why she scurried

Away from his home

His father yelled out,

“You let her leave you behind?!”

While the prince denied.

After much shouting,

Prince and king came to

A harsh agreement.

The young Prince would search,

Looking for a maiden whose

Foot fit the slipper

But should his quest fail

The prince must wed another.

No choice, or no search.

For days, the Prince searched,

But no maiden’s foot would fit

The lonely glass shoe.

One last house unchecked,

Overgrown and foreboding.

What girl would live here?

An old lady came,

Her daughters, haughty like her

Each trying the shoe.

The first had flat feet

The second had toes too big.

His love, they were not.

Jacques turned to leave,

But stopped when he saw the maid,

Ash-covered and sad.

“Let her try” he said.

“But she’s just Cinderella!”

The Lady cried out.

“She’s familiar.”

The prince explained, admiring

Her cornflower blue eyes.

Gently caressing

The glass shoe, she slipped it,

On, a perfect fit!

“How!?” screamed the lady,

Horrified at the idea

Her maid was now queen.

“Ella!” Jacques cried,

Joy and shock filling the air.

Jacques embraced her.

“Ella… do you want”

“To be my wife and queen?”

“Of course!” Ella cried.

So with the King’s love,

The Prince became King,

With Ella as queen.

Thus, as the saying

Goes, they all lived happily

Ever after. Fin.