John White and the Seven Maidens

The king had been dead for nearly ten years,

Yet his wife, now the queen, had shed not one tear.

She could rule as she pleased, and that suited her pride,

Til the day her stepson, the prince, took a bride.

John White was a fine prince, with skin very fair.

His lips were bloodred, and jet black was his hair.

His birthday was soon, sixteen years he’d be,

Then the queen would send him to fight in her army.

He’d probably be killed; she couldn’t care less,

As long as he didn’t marry a damsel in distress.

However, the day he began the sixteenth year of his life,

John announced, “I’m setting off on a quest to find my wife!”

The queen didn’t like it; how dare he threaten her throne?

So she sent two huntsmen to kill him while he was on his own.

But the prince was a great swordsman; he had been taught well.

And he escaped from the clearing where the huntsmen fell.

John staggered for a while, hurt, tired, and dirty,

And as the sun began setting, he became very thirsty.

He discovered a cottage deep in the wood.

It was nestled in the midst of where some giant trees stood.

Inside, the empty house was quite tidy, an injured man’s Heaven,

It seemed that maidens lived here; from John’s guess, there were seven.

He drank some of their water and ate some of their bread,

Then he limped to the next room and went right to bed.

Now the queen gazed into her magic mirror

In the hopes that she could see the huntsmen clearer.

She saw them struggling to return from the forest,

And she knew she’d have to continue the quest.

She realized the prince couldn’t be taken by force,

And that trickery and deceit were in due course.

She would prey instead on his heart of gold,

And formulate a plan around his love for the old.

John White awoke to seven pairs of eyes

Staring back at him, and he gasped in surprise.

The maidens all giggled, and the sound was quite pretty.

He tried to sit up, but his body was still achy.

“I’m sorry to intrude,” he said with a flush.

“I was attacked and I had to escape in a rush.”

“It’s all right!” said a maiden with obvious glee.

“I’d be happy to clean the wound on your knee.”

“We’ve never had a guest so handsome,” another one muttered.

And they all giggled again, each one looking flustered.

“My name’s Weepy,” said a girl with mocha skin.

“For my open heart and deep compassion.”

“I’m Clingy,” the redhead maiden crooned,

As she rushed forward with a rag to clean his wound.

“The name’s Easy,” said another, standing on tiptoe.

“I’m really mellow; I just go with the flow.”

“I’m Moody,” a beautiful, but sullen one grumbled.

“Don’t cross me or you will quickly be humbled.”

“I’m PA, short for Passive Aggressive,”

Another said as she stood in a way most suggestive.

“I’m Sloppy!” called another as she knocked over a bucket.

And she tossed back her hair, which was glossy chestnut.

The shortest girl stepped forward to greet him.

She had a round face and wasn’t quite slim.

She lacked her sisters’ exotic beauty,

But her heart was gentle, and she was obviously brainy.

“That’s Sofia,” said Clingy.  “Don’t pay her any mind.

We can all talk more once we’ve washed and dined.”

A few days passed, and the maidens cared for John.

They ate and they talked, treating him like a fawn.

As nice as they were, John found them annoying,

With their endless swooning, simpering, and admiring.

Only Sofia didn’t irk him so,

But the others always made her go.

When she looked at him, her eyes were kind,

And he wondered if they spoke, what he might find.

The others were obvious in their romantic advances,

And John found himself trying to give them fewer chances.

Clingy was smothering and never left his side.

She always seemed to find him when he tried to hide.

Weepy seemed constantly overcome with sorrow,

Unless she had attention, then her face was aglow.

Easy practically threw herself at him when they were alone.

Frankly, that bored him, and he’d escape to the hearthstone.

Moody was really never good company,

She constantly challenged him and wanted to fight over everything.

PA was nice, but she always had something to say,

And she made snarky comments when she didn’t get her way.

Sloppy was usually a lot of good fun

Until she staggered around from too much rum.

Yet in spite of all their ridiculous quirks,

Living with seven women definitely had its perks.

The house was clean, the food was delicious,

And there was no queen who was envious.

One day, when John White was strong enough to be on his own,

The maidens went to the market to sell herbs they had grown.

Not long after did he hear a knock at the door.

There stood an old woman, and she looked quite poor.

“Please, sir, would you buy an apple from a woman in need?

I could use the money; I have ten children to feed.”

“Of course,” said the prince, and he bought a large apple.

He took a huge bite, and his whole body crumpled.

“Alas!” cried the queen in disguise.  “The prince is dead!

I will be queen forever, for he will never wed!”

Some squirrels nearby heard her evil laugh,

And they bit at her heels, chasing her down the path.

They climbed up her body, scratching at her head,

Then she tripped off a cliff and fell down dead.

When the maidens got home, they were aghast.

Each had thought she’d found her true love at last.

Six fled to weep; only Sofia remained.

She started to prepare John’s body, her composure regained.

She called to the others, asking for help,

But the only response was a collective yelp.

Sofia wrapped him in a blanket and brought him to the meadow

Which could be viewed inside through the kitchen window.

She looked at him one moment more between gentle sniffs,

Then planted a featherlight kiss upon his lips.

She walked back towards the house, overcome with grief,

Wondering who had stolen his life like a thief.

She heard a man’s voice, “Sofia!” it cried,

And she realized that John hadn’t truly died.

“It was your kiss of true love that set me free,”

Said the prince, getting down on one knee.

Sofia, or “wisdom,” as he now knew

Was pure of heart and mind, one of the few.

John and Sofia were married a few days later.

They ruled as king and queen, happily ever after.