Princesses

I am a captive of this tower

I wait,

I wait,

I wait. 

No one's coming. 

No prince, 

No peasant,

No one. 

I cut off my hair. 

I weave, 

I twist,

I braid. 

I have rope.

Test it- works.

Out the window, 

Down the tower.

For the first time, I am outside

The sun on my face,

The birds singing,

The grass soft-

I am free.

I need no prince.

I'm lost, wandering the wood

When I come across some dwarves who say I could 

Stay with them if I make a deal;

I could stay if I make the meals.

Sounds like a good plan to me, 

We live together in such glee.

A woman comes late one night,

Asking me if I might

Want the apple that's in her hand. 

Seems to me like an evil plan.

"Is it free?" I ask, she says, "Yes"

Poisoned apple is my guess.

I say, "No thanks," and close the door,

She's begging, screaming, pleading, more.

The dwarves help me chase her away,

I am alive and here to stay.

I don't make dumb decisions. 

I have been cleaning as long as I can remember. 

Do this, Do that.

I listen, I obey.

I'm sick of it.

"Make me a dress with 3,000 beads,

Do it by hand by tomorrow."

She hands me the beads.

I throw them in her face.

She yells.

I walk away.

I don't need a man to save me.

I don't need a prince.

I am smart, you see 

I can voice my dissidence. 

I am

     free

     smart

     brave

     independent.

I am a woman.