Rumpelstiltskin

Some called it a curse, others called it a blessing.

Call it what you want- it won’t change.

There’s a girl in trouble? He had to help.

Whether he wanted to or not.

Was it such a crime that he asked for a price?

Paid or not, he had no choice.

He helped them all, he helped many

Yet people still called him “monster.”

He’d done it for years, now he was old.

The girls no longer admirable, the presents dull,

The magnificence of his magic gone.

Some girls showed up more than once

But this girl was unique.

Her father’s pride caused pain to her-

His bragging sparking the king’s greed.

No one can turn straw to gold,

Yet she was forced to do the impossible.

He showed up to help, like always.

It was the same as the girls before-

He asked for payment, her bracelet was given

Then a snap turned plant to rock.

He was back the following day

Even more straw, even more gold.

No choice on his behalf, her earrings now his-

The final thing she could call hers.

Back again the third day

More straw in the room than ever before seen

Not a person or cow with any left.

He let out a sigh and then turned to the girl

Asking for something in return.

She had none to give yet he could not refuse

Yet this she did not know.

She fell to her knees begging for his help

She promised her firstborn child

He lifted her up, fully in agreement

Then the room was filled with gold.

The king was impressed and married the girl

Not knowing of her barter.

A full year passed before a girl was born

And the man returned.

He reminded the queen of the promise made

It was binding and sure

The baby became his and was taken back

To the kingdom he called home

He fell in love with the tiny girl

And raised her as his own

Eighteen years passed and the man had died

Yet the baby was grown to an adult.

Although young, already a queen

The queen of her own kingdom

She lived in wealth but looked jealously

Toward the kingdom of her birth

The story had never been hidden from her

What a pity that is.

She waited in patience till her birth parents were gone

Her brother now on the throne

The bitterness rose deep in her mind

She gathered her army and marched

A month of bloodshed her jealousy caused,

yet her pride would not let her retreat.

Her army suffered greatly yet the castle was hers

Besieged and overtaken

Ready to take the throne she paused

When a woman’s tale reached her.

The old queen, desperate when her child was taken

Stole this woman's child

A farmer’s son was then called prince

He was raised as if her own blood

Yet no royal blood flowed through a single vein.

The girl laughed and revealed the story

His name was false twice over.

She declared herself the queen’s true child

True heir to the kingdom's throne and crown.

Yet the people loved the prince they said

And refused to accept her

She grit her teeth and forced submission

But rebellions still raged.

The only way to quell them, she knew

Was to join the two kingdoms.

Her eyes turned to the prince- for he was the key

To becoming the true ruler.

With a simple word and a toss of her knife

She was the only royalty

She joined the two kingdoms and took up her throne

Ruling as an evil queen, none dared to go against.

Her story is told still to this day

And her name- Rumpelstiltskin, still feared.