The Princess and the Pea

In kingdoms rife with royalty

Through mountains far and near

The prince, upon his mighty steed

Searched out a princess dear

The young disheartened lad returned,

Informed the king and queen:

“The four corners and seven seas

Hold not my bride-to-be!”

One ev’ening the skies turned grey;

Lightning, thunder, then rain

The king was smoking in his room

A knock came at the gate

A beggar stood amongst the guards

Before great golden stairs

Small raindrops glistened on her nose,

Blue diamonds in her hair

The king did answer graciously

(He was a noble host)

The queen followed suspiciously

With slightly upturned nose

“My lord, my king, your majesty

I beg of you an ear

Although you may not be convinced

I’ll tell you why I’m here.”

The girl removed her tattered cloak,

Let down her golden hair

“Your son is looking for his mate,

I am that maiden fair.”

“Oh, very well,” the king replied

“It’s devilishly late

Please come inside and stay the night,

Tomorrow sees your fate.”

That wint’ry night the princess slept

On twenty mattresses

She tossed and turned from restlessness

And from an aching head

Next morning’s sunrise graced with light

The quiet countryside

A solitary traveler

Prayed a prayer unheard

“How was your rest, my honoured guest?”

(Again, this king had class!)

Trailing his royal highness was

The prince, his queen in last

“I cannot lie, and so confess

Your hospitality

Is not quite fit for princesses

Especially not for me!”

“Your mattresses are cactuses,

Feathers like razor blades

Fill iron sheets of chainèd mail

In rocky crevices."

This poetry spoke fluidly

From her red moistened lips

The king, the queen, foremost the prince

Have loved her ever since

That’s it, my friends, we’ve reached the end

And one most happy be!

A true love story of true love;

“The Princess and the Pea”

-Zac Herman