Sleeping Beauty

(Part of the Princess Series of Poems)

Beware Maleficent, ancient fairy uninvited,  

affronted for the lack of a golden plate, so angry,

so petty, as to cast her spell upon the royal infant,

blonde of hair and fair of skin, a curse

come due on her birthday, newly 17,

at the prick of a spindle’s needle, drawing blood.

Look instead to the last fairy, last gift bestowed,

powerless to undo a spell cast, but powerful enough

to change death to a deep sleep, one hundred

years and a first kiss, awoken by a handsome Prince,

determined, fighting thorns and, perhaps, a fiery dragon,

evil itself, seeking truth, seeking nothing but you, Aurora,

Princess, the sleeping beauty, and finding love.