Runner Up of the “Written” Category

“Once Upon a Time”

By Katie Thayer - FL

(Poem)

I once wished for Prince Charming

To (who would guess)

Ride in on his steed

And save this Damsel from distress.

Yet, had he handed me his hand,

He wouldn’t have heard a yes—

His unfortunate anatomy

Would overshadow his charmingness.

But, I was still the maiden in the tower—

Sleeping beauty in her bed.

I needed to be brought back

From the poison-apple-dead.

So, I wished upon a star,

And put on my fairy godmother’s threads.

I forgot about a prince,

And found Princess Charming instead.

She wore no royal garments,

And rode in on no horse.

Yet, set in the setting sun’s splendor,

Her kiss was still a blissful tour-de-force!

She had no huge castle,

And showed no remorse—

She just winked and said, “hello,”

Then later her name, of course.

Since I’d lost no glass slipper,

She instead found me time.

And while I lacked story-long locks,

She loved me for my mind.

Without the aid of dwarves or mice,

We fell in love just fine.

Though our tale’s far from Goose or Grimm,

True love’s kiss was still sublime.

And though my Princess Charming

Wasn’t very male,

She’s the one that charmed me

And made my life a fairy tale.

And though she saved me from

No evil-dragon-witch filled disaster,

I still know we’ll live

Happily Ever After.