The Secret Poem by Margaret Alice Second

Rereading Beauty and the Beast recounted in World
of Fairytales, struck by the sense of loss when Beast
turns into just another prince – I began to dream of a
Beast who remains such, only gruffly shows kindness
as best he can, while still beloved by faithful Beauty

Eyes shining, gone aches and pains no medicine could
take away; love the story of the eternal Beast redeemed
by love and loyalty, Beauty never cheaply recompensed
with handsome appearance; outer hideousness keeping
her inner eye sharp for spiritual beauty deep within

A grotesque animal loving her with wild devotion instead
of a refined, boring prince is much more enchanting to my
mind - phantoms are so much more interesting than the
foppish Ralphs with which life abound; but we must
not let the secret out….


“World of Fairytales” Michael Foreman, Random House,
Red Fox Edition 1994, pp.73-79