The books my mother read to me
In the dim lamplight while I fought
Against the weight of my eyelids
Taught me that I was to be saved, so I waited.
But my prince never came.

I set off on my own journey.
I got dirtied, bruised, and burnt.
I met ogres, fought dragons and battled witches.
Finally, I arrived to find you
Using the last of my strength
I reached up to knock on the high walls of your heart
"Open to me!" I said

But you stayed behind your doors
And peered at me through the cracks
My hair was a mess and my dress was torn
And you threw me out of your castle
For I looked nothing like any princess you had seen before
You could not see that it had been all for you.