Once Upon a Time
Once upon a time
a princess trapped in a tower
scrubbed floors and stairs and window panes
and dreamed every day of
release and
escape and
once—
she hardly dared to think—
of freedom.
Once upon a time
a prince trapped in a stone castle
smiled and waved, put on display
for people who didn’t know didn’t care didn’t—
but he shouldn’t think
such thoughts
of his people.
Out the tower window gazed the witch,
her mask lowered just this once.
Her eyes beheld her princely son
while behind her toiled
the princess drudge.
It was child’s play to get revenge,
and child’s play to keep it.
But still that gaping hole did gasp
and sputter and scream
inside her heart
and still her eyes, when closed, did drown
her mind with images of pain.
When at last the prince did ride
upon his stallion, brilliant white,
the witch did look down with pride—
as he scaled the tower,
as he struggled,
thrashing,
as he fell into her trap.
Victory!
Sweet victory was hers!
But enjoy it the witch could not.
The prince’s sword pierced her side.
And the witch dropped
down
down
down
and the princess fell to her knees
and the sword fell from her hands
and the prince gazed
up
upon his love
and they lived happily
ever after.