Once upon a time not so very long ago

up above a ragged rugged river hanging on

until the next rains come

in a tower of wood and nails surrounded

by trees taller than mountains older than god

lives a maiden curled up in feathers as

pipe dreams taunt her ultimate freedom

from the shackles of her own mind

attempts to drown out sounds of hounds

just beyond threshold with music builds slow yet steady find

fading into a brighter shade of pale color coming back

unleashing ferocious gentility within confines of this room

recalling the deal with the devil foolishly made

bought and sold whisked away by an old crone

offering up to the highest bidder with strongest voice

for her own, lost for the under spell, lost in a disenchanted forest

meekly awakening she whispers to the trees as they lean deep within

the hilltop earth speckled with carrions pecking for order and buggy bit morsels

her head spins like acorns that toss themselves diving to the forest floor

tumbling fumbling rumbling like her thoughts as she begins to break the spell

Focusing on the stained glass she begins to see the light

She once felt captured in that tower high

Charming as it sounds, she knows better now

She will save herself, letting down her long hair, realizing thus…………

Happily-ever-afters cannot be found outside constraints of the towers in which we dwell nor from those outside of us who wish to save us; but from deeply within, regardless of surroundings or circumstances

This is the Happily Ever After