Growing up, storytime with Mom wasn’t so much about princes and princesses. The theme was more witches, black cats, and cauldrons.

Yet in 2005, as a grandmother of seven, she wrote about the princes who came to visit one day.

The Suitors

The princes came

Somehow she stayed awake
enduring flattery and fluff
their mouths were coffers
full of fat
her lips were tired of smiling
of eyes of searching
not one would she wish
to rule beside her

They left at last
she walked into her garden for relief
the middle gardener handed her a rose
with thorns

Life with me would be like this
he said some joy some pain
she bade him sit down on her bench
to tell her more

~ joan vayo ~ June 17, 2005

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“The Suitors” ©2005  Joan Vayo. All rights reserved.

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