The Sad Little Princess

In honor of Prince William and Princess Kate, I decided to post a poem that I wrote several years ago. It's probably my favorite piece I've ever written. Enjoy!

The Sad Little Princess
or
The Princess Who Couldn't Smile

High upon a hillside
In a castle made of stone,
Lived a sad little princess
Who spent all her days alone.

Though the chef prepared the finest foods,
And her maids dressed her in style,
And the king did all to please her,
They could never make her smile.

All sorts of entertainers came:
Magicians, dancers, mimes.
And jesters danced about her
Spouting riddles, jokes, and rhymes.

Still her dark mood worsened,
She refused to rise from bed.
The king’s physician took her pulse
And gently felt her head.

He left her room with grave concern
And when the king drew near,
He shook his head and sadly said,
“She’ll die within the year.”

The king cried out in anguish.
“Alas, how can this be?
Her every wish is granted.
She means everything to me.”

In restless agitation
The king tossed and turned all night,
Then rose as dawn was breaking
With a plan to ease his plight.

His royal emissaries came
And listened to his plan,
“Ride throughout the kingdom
Find the merriest folk you can.

Escort them to the castle
Do it with the utmost haste,
Time is of the essence
There’s not a moment we can waste.”

And so his servants left him,
They rode throughout the land,
While the king kept bedside vigil
And held his daughter’s hand.

At night he paced the battlements
And searched the distant moor,
His eyes had oft played tricks on him
But this night he was sure.

Torch lights moving toward him,
The cavalcade drew nigh,
“I’ll finally have the answer,”
Said the king with a hopeful sigh.

A trumpet sounded welcome,
The gates were opened wide.
The travelers all dismounted
And found themselves inside

The Great Hall of the castle
Where a mighty feast was set
Their merry laughter drifting
To the highest parapet.

A good night’s rest was had by all
And when their fast was broken,
They congregated in the Hall
To hear the king’s words spoken.

“Pray, merry maids and gentlefolk,
Your laughter makes me cry;
My daughter finds no joy in life
And I do not know why.

Who wouldst be the first to speak
And offer up the key
To finding happiness in life,
I beg you earnestly.”

The Hall was filled with silence
While his subjects stared about.
Is this why they were brought here?
They would lose their heads, no doubt!

For none could place their finger
On a single magic key
That caused them to be happy
Or filled their lives with glee.

The king awaited patiently,
But when the hush grew long
He gazed down at them sternly
And demanded, “What is wrong?”

A timid maiden raised her eyes
And stepped before the crowd;
She curtsied to the king, and then
She spoke these words aloud:

“Your Majesty, I’m at a loss,
Not sure what I can say.
I’m just a simple milkmaid
And I spend my life that way.

I greet the cows each morning
Before the sun does rise
And set them out to pasture
As gold sunlight fills the skies.

I carry pails to market
And when the day is through,
I’m happy and contented
With the job that I can do.”

The king began to rub his chin
The answer was not clear,
Then a young lad bowed before him,
He had overcome his fear.

“Your Highness, please excuse me
For I fear I have no key
But I will tell you of myself
And hope it pleases thee.

I am a lowly stable boy;
My job takes little skill,
Yet every time a foal is born
It gives me such a thrill.

I brush their coats and clean their stalls
And when the day is through
I’m filled with pride and pleasure
In the job that I can do.”

Pondering what the lad had said,
A thought began to grow,
He’d have to hear from others though,
Before the king would know.

So, one by one his subjects spoke;
None boasted wealth or fame,
Yet, a thread ran through their stories
And it always was the same.

A blacksmith, then a midwife
A tailor all came forth
And spoke of how a job well done
Gave them a sense of worth.

And when the last had spoken
The king sank upon his throne,
Thanked his loyal subjects
And allowed them to go home.

“My child has had much given
Though not had the chance to give
Her life has little meaning
And she’s lost the will to live.

If time allows, I’ll help her see
The things that she can do;
I know I’ve found the secret
That will help my child pull through.

* * * * *
Indeed, a happy ending
Is what you soon will hear,
The princess still is living,
Though it’s been more than a year.

No longer does she sit alone
And rarely does she frown;
She’s busy helping others
As she rides from town to town.

She travels through the kingdom
In a dress of simple style
And helps the poor and needy,
And she does it . . . with a smile.

By: Julie Schuh