The Tale Of A Prince… Poem by Aphrodite Anastasia Menegaki

Once upon a time at a faraway kingdom,
Lived a prince who dreamed of peace and loved his freedom;
He had gardens made of wishes and a castle tall,
But lone he felt and the villagers he longed to call;
He promised a feast; all his cellar's goods and wine;
All friends together they sat at his garden to dine.
Happy as he was, of his silk tapestries he spoke;
Hearing his laugh and words, the castle's court woke;
Long time now they kept these tapestries from being seen,
The prince spoke of what they'd keep for themselves clean.
And so they told the prince of thieves and fearsome bandits,
"Build a moat, our prince! Or they'll come to you near! "
Knowing his court for years, he trusted their words and his fear,
At once it was built and crocodiles made a nest inside;
Villagers and friends dread at these deadly teeth's sight;
They left scared to come back, hearing the court laugh pleased,
All but a girl young, with heart strong from fear unseized;
She stood near the gates, where the court wouldn't see her,
She saw the prince locked; he wouldn't sleep not eat either,
He hurt his friends and angry he was, more than she ever thought;
But her love was true and she stayed there trying not to get caught.
The prince went to the castle's turrets up his tall wall,
Stood at the edge as he was, his court threw him off to fall,
His castle was now theirs; let him drown in his own moat!
But before his crocodiles eat him, the girl rushed to his aid;
His pride was wounded much; "I need not your help! " he said.
She wouldn't go, not before she helps him break free;
"Trust my heart, trust my love for you, and have faith in me",
"How can I break free? Trapped I am in my own mask"
And the girl gave her hand and whispered "My prince, just ask"…