Cinderella

 

Here you come,
Looking for Cinderella-
The abject doll in distress
Who you must rescue and reinstate;
Transport from one prison to another;
From one prisoner to another;
Driven by mice in a pumpkin cage;
Wrapped in a glitzy dress,
And fitted with squeaky shoes.

 But you are lost and mistaken!
Cinderella is no more here.
She wound up her chores yesterday
And in self-pity, went to sleep,
Crying into her tattered dress,
And praying to the good fairies
For a strong and handsome prince
To look after and pamper her.

 However,
Cinderella got much better
Than what she had asked for
She died when asleep.
She woke up as a lioness
Who fed on her wounds
Prided herself on her might.
Who tore apart hurdles,
To conquer, eloped into the wild.

(This poem first appeared in The Yellow Chair Review)