A Modern Day Cinderella

A candidate must not be soiled
Virginal as the freshly fallen snow.

So that with his first thrust all will know that the issue is his, not another's.

Her beauty shall be as the airbrushed ads

That taunts us into buying their products to achieve what is beyond our grasp.

To deny herself and her needs will bring happiness ever after.

Once upon a time

There was a prince.

Dumbo was his name

He searched for his Snow White of porcelain beauty.

Woman after woman threw herself at the prince.

He flicked them aside as a hunter does a wayward branch

Alas! He found his true Cinderella

Not sweeping cinders but nurturing young minds.

"Marry her. Marry her quickly!

She must not know.

Marry her to maintain respectability.

She is of a noble bloodline"

Said the queen grasping at straws.

"But Mother, I love another who is not free" he whined.

"Spare this kingdom the shame. Form the alliance!"

He rushed to his true love's side presenting her with a token of his love

Then he scurried off to marry his princess-to-be.

The princess truly loved her Prince Dumbo

And despite his large ears gave him two heirs.

She lived for him and his happiness

Was not this her royal duty?

Whatever happened to happily ever after?

He never loved her and made it clear

I will hunt and keep myself busy.

Appearances are everything to mother.

"Behave yourselves," said the queen

"I will not have a scandal.

Put on your makeup and take your places.

Your audience is waiting"

The princess ate and purged the loneliness

Let me die and leave this spotlight I cannot escape

The crowds adore me, but not my love

He has no love, no compassion.

Using her notoriety as a conduit

The princess channeled her unreturned love on charity

Follow me if you dare

Across the hidden minefields

To the orphans of the aftermath of war

To the other side of the tracks

To the children, especially the children.

"Conduct yourselves as expected of one in your standing.

Image is everything to the crown.

Deny the truth and squelch the rumors.

Remember you are a happily married couple.

And don't forget to wear your hat!" said the queen.

Please! I beg of you

No longer can I pretend

If the show must go on

Let it go on without me and my sons.

The princess wanted to free her wings

Feel the wind as she soared on her own

To live without the spotlight.

The vultures circled

They were used to waiting

It was a way of life for them

Give us anything

A tidbit here, a tidbit there

We'll blow it out of proportion.

Finally, the princess gave in

Her blood splashed across the headlines

Screaming the truth.

Flash! Flash!

Prince has a lover on the side

Read all about it

He loves another, not me!

I know and can do nothing.

The queen rolled up the red carpet

Tiptoeing, the press and biographers gained access through the back door

Tongues wagged incessantly as puppy dogs' tails.

Quick to the press!

Because mine is the truth

Mine is the best

Chide the salivating vultures

The predators return to pick over the bones.

"Off with their tongues!" Shouted the queen.

They tell nothing but lies

The vultures ignored protocol

And the denouncements of the queen

.

And what of the princess?

She cleared every hurdle

And moved forward with Prince Dumbo

Temporarily forgetting the happily ever after ending

Peace of mind and a rested soul were more important

No longer did she seek relief with her finger.

Take care and beware of princely knights

Roaming and sowing their seeds

They know not what they are doing

Unless. . .

They follow the cue of the queen.