once upon a princess

they had always assumed the truth had been

that the dragon loomed by the princess to doom the young men who attempted

to save her;

to keep her entombed; the dragon behooved to trap her within the walls.

but perhaps look closer and over the chaos you'll see

the princess had always been free,

and venturing through the empty halls the truth was

she felt safe near the dragon's claws because there the men could not place claim

to her name or maime her voice,

she felt she had a choice, not inclined to hold her poise

and power at her fingertips drove the men to their knees as they pleaded for their lives

made attempts to flee

all in vain

she made her name beside the dragon's flank.

call it cowardice, cruel, or crude

whatever word you prefer to use

whatever word you prefer to believe

the princess took advantage and presumed her position, so you see,

realization overcoming, giving her the notion

that perhaps "princess" is not a limitation, but an enabler

for what she could be.