Once upon a time

Far away once upon a time

There was a castle of dream

With diamond turrets and golden glow

And there lived the king

Of mighty power, equivocal strength

Who laid among moonbeams

But all alone….all alone

A darkened soul it seemed.

One day came a gypsy boy

Travelling along the way

He had heard of lonely king

And thought to save the day.

He asked king to choose a wife

And break through the curse

Choose a queen among all

Who can sing a verse

Of magic that would break away

The darkness, guilt and remorse.

The news spread all over the kingdom

That the king is searching a wife

Who can sing like a nightingale

Whose voice is full of life

Parents came with their daughters

From far far away

And then there was this maid

Working with the hay.

The maid worked in the same castle

Where lived the king

She cooked, she washed, she cleaned

And she loved to sing

She was just a plain maiden

Stoutness was her thing

Yet she loved his majesty

Dreamt of wearing his ring.

Then there was her beautiful sister

Who shone like a gold

With golden tresses and sweet smile

Also calculating and bold

She had her clothes done

With everything else sold

Extracted a promise from her sis

Their relation would not be told.

A ball was then announced

Every fair maiden were present

All of them were asked to sing

The verses given to them

Then there was that maid

Doing as she was asked

She wore the green taffeta

Her face concealed and masked.

She sang her verses well

The song rang through the hall

The king was mesmerised

With a smile, he stood tall.

The search was over by then

Choice made, conclusion reached.

At the time of announcement

The sisters were then switched.

Unknown to this switching

The king chose his queen

Unmasked the golden girl

Who wore lemon green.

The maid in the shadow

Shed some silent tears.

She attended to her duties

Forgetting the ring

Subordinating the dreams of hers

To the happiness of king.

She decorated the queen’s room

Cleaned mirrors so high

She looked at her own image

And gave out a long sigh.

‘’No I’ll never be a beauty

I’ll never catch his eye.’’

Resigned to her fate

She started cleaning the slate.

She knew with time

The queen’s heart will grow fonder

And she might even love the king.

And herself a creature in the shadow

Will always remain a maid

A maid who loved to sing.