Spellbound

When I was but twelve, I wanted to be
the most beautiful girl you ever did see.
with shining gold hair, pure alabaster skin,
I was vain to a fault, tho’ I knew it a sin.

At my mirror I’d sit, I’d primp and I’d preen,
with my dishwater hair, and eyes muted green.
I’d pose and I’d pucker, I’d smile and I’d gloat,
“Someday above all of these peasants I’ll float!”

I’d call down from my perch, in a old gnarled tree
“Spellbound by my beauty, is what you will be!!”
At the time I was young, and was not yet aware,
that the spirits that be, were indeed everywhere..

I was yet to surmise, and would never have known,
that the gnarled old tree that I thought was my throne,
was an old soul indeed, and quite wizened with age,
who I came to find out, was called Grandmother Sage..

The tone of her voice was so soothing and kind,
she spoke Shakespearean English, so poetic, refined.
and like my own grandmother, she just couldn’t withhold,
when I begged her for beauty and tresses of gold..

After thorough consideration, and much pleading on my part
no longer could she deny me, this desire of my heart.
“If it’s spellbound that you wish, so spellbound they will be
every creature, thus forth, that casts its eyes upon thee…”

There was no clap of thunder, no chorus of angel song
for a moment I admit, I thought she had done something wrong.
“And as for you my child, tonight you’ll bed in yonder field.
as in the morning light, true beauty’s secret shall be revealed..”

So I heeded her advise, and went off alone to claim my prize.
falling asleep in the moon light, with stardust in my eyes.
Come morning I awoke, and at first thought I’d been cursed.
all alone in yonder field, my broken heart nearly burst.

“Grandmother!” I called out, but she was no where to be found.
and I, was going nowhere, firmly planted in the ground.
For many a year thereafter, I cursed her, and failed to thrive,
as I found myself rooted, so much more dead than alive.

Then once upon a spring time, a traveling carnival did pass,
and it was then, I spied myself, in a mirrored piece of glass.
Spellbound by my own beauty, I couldn’t believe my eyes,
my glimmering golden tresses back lit by sun drenched skies…

“If it’s spellbound that you wish, so spellbound they will be
every creature, thus forth, that casts its eyes upon thee…”
It was only then I realized, Grandmother Sage had bestowed upon me
The wizened beauty of the ancients, as I saw myself- a golden tree…