Far away from world's metropolis
a princess ambled through opulent bliss
of father's palace, grounds and orchards,
raised her eyes to see four birds

birds of fairest plume and tail
from vantage scanned the hills and dale
forests green, pools deep blue
her father's estate as they flew through

'beasts of feather, light of wing,
speak to me in tune and sing
of your travels, your flighty wanderings
in yonder world and teach me things.'

'teach me how they churn the butter,
those who live 'yond palace wall,
tell me, set my heart a-flutter,
teach me things, great or small.'

'for i yearn to venture hence,
far from rubies and emeralds,
the smoke of myrrh, of frankincense,
the liveried courtiers, serfs and heralds'

'of father's court, though i cherish,
and love him with my heart and soul,
i long to 'scape from the garish
from the ordinance and rigmarole'.

the birds, they heard her royal cry
and swooped her up into the sky,
sailed with her through the air,
each one wing for regal chair.

away from the kingly palace,
it's velvet drapes and plush red carpet,
silver trinkets and gold gem'd chalice,
onto an edge of a village-market

Placed her gently on brown'd grass,
on scattered remnants of late repast,
paper-waste and broken glass
as two drawn peasants hurried past

Midst the noise and revelry
o' drunken soldiers and cavalry
shouting out in raucous tune
strewn on steps o' stones ill-hewn

'oh take me back to father's place'
cried the princess, tears on face
staining delicate skin and features
as she sought the feathered creatures

but they had gone and wouldn't return
for twoscore months and more,
the princess was to stay and learn
to live with longing at her core

for her father, so far from her,
for that rare 'n subtle existence
vestige of love to sustain her
as she mourned the time 'n distance

as she counted days and weeks
when once again she'd reunite
with mother's kiss on her cheeks
with father's love, her own birthright,

would berate her on her lateness,
would embrace her in their arms,
tell her of her untold greatness,
tell her of their love, her charm

tell her that no matter where,
in deepest darkness or noise of fair,
in truth her father was sovereign supreme
though unseen, he's with you there.