I

I was happy at the mill.

My part was simple…

it was Father who did the

work.

All I need do was

greet the customers,

and lead their eyes

away from the weights

when it was time to

pay.

but  Father

had a big mouth

for such a

little man….

II

“My daughter…can spin straw

to gold!”

An idle boast

offered over one

too many mugs

of ale—

unfortunately

it was offered

to the wrong

people….

and  I wound up

with an underground

address.

III

By royal decree

a room was filled

with a pile of straw

that touched the

ceiling like a

golden waterfall

before it sat a simple wheel

and a three-legged stool

and me.

IV

If Father had had a brain

perhaps he would have

kept his mouth shut…

but we were for it now…

and I stared at the straw and

saw summer fields and

boys with supple tans and

I wept for

days of beauty

remembered.

But tears are easily misinterpreted—

and he thought

I wept for

days of future

lost.

and so he came to me….

…and offered to make things right.

Being in no position to bargain,

I said yes—

but I didn’t know the price.

IV

If  I spin your straw to gold—

save you from this dungeon cold—

bring about your fate foretold—

what, then, shall I get to hold?

There was a wistful laugh behind his words

as he ducked and turned his head away….

a twisted little figure

with the eyes of a

poet….

and so

I gave to him

a ring—

a trifle

won at Forfeits

from a field hand

in the summer straw

and did not see

the awe

with which

he took it.

V

the king was most impressed.

VI

The next day there were two piles of straw—

one must admire the king’s persistence,

even while deploring his greed…

and so I sat again before the golden mountains

and wondered if he’d come.

VII

Asleep,

I dreamed a handsome prince

drifted past the mill

on a gilded boat

and—catching a glimpse—

came to my side

and brushed

a kiss

across my brow,

murmuring,

“I love thee so….”

In a voice like spring wine.

VIII

Gasping awake,

            to a cell of stone

                        with bars of steel

                                    I saw him retreat

                                                into the shadows

IX

If I can break you from this hold

by spinning all this straw to gold—

swell the kingdom’s wealth tenfold—

for what price is my labor sold?

There was something hidden behind those liquid eyes—

swimming in their infinite depths—

it almost broke the surface

before it dove back into his heart.

I gave him

a locket

that had belonged

to my mother

and noted the

ring

upon one lily hand.

X

They say third time’s the charm.

XI

The dungeon was now so packed with straw

they barely had a place to set the wheel.

I was suffocating

and yet

I prayed

to see him—

though

I had

but one

gift

left to give….

XII

I looked behind me,

and he was there.

perched upon

the heap of straw

and watching

me

with eyes

that gave away

his secrets.

XIII

Here we are as was of old—

you, with straw that must be gold…

I, with hands the secret hold—

what gift shall I now be doled? 

the words were soft and

oh…so infinitely sweet—

I looked behind the twisted mask

into the shelter of that hidden heart

and all the walls came crashing down.

I gave to him

the only thing

I had left—

I gave to him a kiss

from my soul

to his

and his hands spun so fast that the gold flowed like a river,

washing me to a throne—

XIV

So here I sit, on my empty throne,

waiting for a child

I both fear and crave….

And I wish I knew his name.