A Lonely PrincessA Poem by Steve KittellA fairy tale of dragons and choicesWhere rocky cliff meets
stormy sea, a castle perched,
forever be. Where gray stone
surrounds little seen sky. ‘Twas this fortress a young
princess cry.
The princess post
birth, her parents delight, treasured by day, guarded
by night. Feasting with jesters,
ponies, puppets and maids, a gaggle of servants
draw bright velvet shades
With sentry of knight to
share all her dreams, her eyes shut tight to
hide her screams. Time wasted limitless,
she wished for an end. The princess was lonely
without a true friend. . One morning awoken by a
kiss from a queen, sleepy eyes opened to a
sight seldom seen. Golden light sparkles
in diamond pane rare, a sapphire morn burns black
coal night air.
A tasty breakfast
served on tray in bed. Downy pillows fluffed
to rest her head. The king arrived more
jolly than ever, with riddle to solve,
if anyone clever.
“What may have wings
cannot fly. Holds a heart yet
cannot die. Shaken pitch laughs off
rain. Having one a princess to
gain?”
The joyous young girl
made many a guess. The kings’ piddling patience
grew less and less. The queen and knights
all had a try. The king muttered “castle!”
with a loud sigh.
The room bemused by the
riddler’s zeal. Most unconcerned with
how others feel. A castle repeated in
more pleasant a tone, a home for a princess
to call her own.
But first a short trip
outside the wall, where grass tickles feet
and trees grow tall. There are lessons to
learn from tutors wise. There are truths to see
with growing eyes.
Now’s time a princess
must prepare, for the eventual call
of a prince to be dear. A someday king awaits
his throne, whence you shall rest
upon your own.
The princess knew the
day would come, a bartered prize as was
her Mum. No fairy tale endings
for spawn of kings. “Tis a life shackled with
heavy gold rings.
Adventure awaits, no
time for self-pity, freedom’s short locked
in a stone city. Knowledge abounds
beyond heavy gates. The princess skips past
on worn ancient slates.
Beneath a fine bonnet
of satin and lace, excitement glowed on
her adolescent face. Her velvet shoes barely
touching the dirt, a merry cyclone a-swirl
in silk skirt.
Her mentor soon waves
from path by wood. Magical flora beckons,
some bad, some good. Wonders overwhelm in
green forest lush. An ocean of emeralds
painted with brush.
With each lash
a-flutter bursts a new color. Light and shades multiply
them all more. With the thirst of a sponge
she did explore, where surprises abound when not looked for.
A gentle breeze blew, a
little leaf flew, bright sky filled in the
space anew A ray of sunlight kissed
a shiny stone. Atop a bed of dewy leaf
it rests alone.
With a tiny tap upon
its shimmering side, the distant fates of
two collide. Surface cracking on this
egg thought stone, a heartbeat wakened
with thunderous tone.
Out popped a plump
lump, beneath wings of scale. A pat on the rump exposed
its long tail. A final stretch thrust shell
shards to leaf. And there lie a
creature beyond belief.
Warm smiles shared with
a new friend. A precious little pearl,
the girl’s to defend. The gazes shattered by
a howl from the trail, ‘twas the elderly
teacher, impatient and frail.
The princess knew what
had to be done. The babe hid under her
bonnet and bun. Down the path she ran
back to the gate. Yelled to the guards “The teacher was late”
Gates barely open she
slipped through the crack, escaping notice of the
tail down her back. Safe in her chamber
they shared the night’s meal, both sharing puckers
with fresh lemon peel.
Then swathed in plush
robes, kissed on the head, the fledgling was
tucked safely under the bed. Each night passing,
more robes to conceal, this teething tot with
big teeth that’s real.
Each day growing from
the princess’s scraps, she grew thinner, now
padded with straps. The servants grew
nervous at both the sight, one lie near weightless,
one flew in the night.
The princess’s secret though
soon was known, when her expanding
friend went out alone. The knights became
dazed by armored flight, their swords no match
for the hunger of night.
The king and queen
where too nearly maimed. Pawns, bishops and rooks
where all to be blamed. A wizard was called to
tame the toddler beast. His tenure cut short
when almost a feast.
The creature now huge, truly
loved the girl. She called her Sunshine,
the princess’s Pearl. Together they frolicked
on the castle rooftop. The king spying danger
called for a stop.
Shouting “time’s come
to put childhood behind, It’s now time to marry, I've someone in mind. He’s brave, sweet, wise
and kind, at least I’m told. There’ll be time to
adjust as you both grow old.”
Escorted by king to a
royal coach and four, off to be locked behind
another gilded door. Her fate was sealed by a
noble families need, alliances grown with common
regal seed.
But with a twist, jerk and
a naughty giggle, the squiggly princess
was free now to wiggle. Breaking free, running
fast, past all unaware. She zigged and zagged
toward the rooftop stair.
Screaming loudly for
her only friend Pearl, who tried to save the
much pursued girl. A guard with a pike
held Pearl on a chain. Blocking the Sunshine’s escape of the reign.
Seeing her friend at
the top of the stair, Pearl snapped her links
then into the air. The petrified guard
fled from his post, grabbing for Sunshine he’d
surely be toast.
The princess ran to the
edge of the roof, yelling to Pearl, she feared
aloof. The big eared beast
sharply turned about, hearing her Sunshine’s
gloomy shout
The king with guards,
knights and queen, Stormed to the roof unprepared
for what’s seen. The princess looked
back, blew a kiss to her mother, and a warm thoughtful
wave to all the other.
Then with a carefree
step she disappeared. Plunging to her sudden
death, or so was feared. The mortified lookers
all lunged for the ledge. Hoping the princess landed
safe in a hedge.
The king peeked over,
not wanting to see, when up rose his honey
like a big bumble bee. She hung from the neck
of her dear friend Pearl, now bonded for life, this dragon and girl.
Higher she climbed with
a dragons eye view, a view to be viewed by
a very small few. Now all surveyed, now
all her realm, Sunshine’s the captain,
Pearl the helm.
Over forest and
mountains, ocean and stream, free in a world where
she need not dream. Adrift on her Pearl upon
the endless sea, Alone they now be in their
realm of fantasy.
The king broken hearted
wept in his sleep. The queen stricken ill
with never a peep. They later agreed to
bare a new heir, whether girl or boy was
not a care.
The next child’s fate
was sure to be better, born free of mind and
trappings that clutter. With a loving heart
nurtured by family and friends, then given the choices
to choose their own ends.
The princess returned in time for the birth. The kingdom was full of merriment and mirth. The princess enchanted with a friend who flew.
And all ends happily as fairy tales all do.
* The
End
Sck121418 © 2015 Steve Kittell |
Stats
344 Views
Added on December 21, 2014 Last Updated on January 8, 2015 Tags: poetry, story in rhyme, dragons, love, choices, fairy tale AuthorSteve KittellIn the shadow of Windmill Cottage, East Greenwich, RIAboutHaving suffered almost fifty years of writers block I'm back, picking up exactly where I left off, as a mischievous five year old. Current chidren's poems can be seen at: http://www.childrens-stori.. more..Writing
|