this is a three page, 1,132 word long poem. it was hell to write!

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The Oak Tree Maiden and the Banished Prince Thorn

Once upon a time forgotten

When clouds resembled fields of wild cotton

When the moon shone like silver in the sky

And the dew-covered roses would never die

There lived a fair maiden, gentle and sweet

With long hair the color of golden wheat

Her eyes, they say, were as green as the sea

And she lived in the branches of a large oak tree

Never down from her tree home would she dare to climb

This lovely, sweet maiden so sublime

Many a prince had tried coaxing her down

But would leave soon after, sporting a frown

They held gold roses in hopes to catch her eye

But she would look at them scornfully and say in reply:

“Keep your glittering roses, for I see that they are fake

The only rose I care for is the kind that the earth makes.”

They tried in vain to tempt her with priceless diamond rings

They tried in vain to tempt her with all sorts of pretty things

And this lovely maiden, she would sigh and she would shake her head

And the princes would all listen as she leaned down to them and said:

“I do not care for the riches that you think girls love so much.

All I truly care for is a true rose’s sweet, soft touch.

But go now, fair young princes; I will not come down for you.

Go find yourselves rich maidens who will surely marry you.”

So, sadly and slowly, the princes went on their way

Trying their best (which was not very well) to hide their horrible dismay

The maiden lived happily for many days now

Being bothered only by a wandering cow

One day, however, a man came along

Dressed in rags and humming a song

He rested himself in the shade of the tree

For so very tired from walking was he

Looking up through the branches so far above him

The man saw the maiden rest her head on a limb

“Fair maiden!” says he, “Might I be blessed to know your name?”

“My name is the wind that cannot be tamed!”

“Fair maiden!” says he, “That is very true!

But what in world am I to call you?”

The maiden thought on the question at hand

And said with a flourish ever so grand:

“If you must call me something, then name me as Rose!”

For that was the name the fair maiden chose

“Oh, Rose,” the man said, stricken with love,

“You’re the only one that I shall ever think of!

Will you come down for me, my dear, sweet flower?

If there’s a task to be done, I’ll do all in my power!”

“There is a task,” said Rose, pleasant,

“Bring my heart’s desire, a present.”

“I shall, my love!” the man said to her.

And Rose replied, “Thank you, kind sir.

But before you go, please be warned,

Bring the wrong present back, and your heart will mourn.”

“Never fear, my love, my utterly adored

For soon you shan’t be in that tree anymore.

I shall bring your present, my precious white dove!”

And so he went, driven by love

A day and a night he searched in vain

With only the hope of seeing her again

Then, lit by the sun of the bright summer morn

He saw a dew-covered rose, decked with thorns

“A rose for my Rose, my beloved bloom

I shall return to you with your present soon!”

Through storms and wind the poor man went

And continued his journey, though his strength was spent

Finally, the maiden’s tree came in sight

Much to the exhausted man’s delight

At the base of the trunk the man bowed deep

But then he looked up, and found that Rose was asleep

The man simply sighed, and sat on the grass

It would be many hours ‘fore she would wake, alas

The man found himself also nodding away

But let himself sleep ‘till came the day

When she woke, Rose leaned down to see

The young man sleeping against the tree

In his hand was a dew-covered rose

When she saw it, the fair maiden froze

Surely this was the man she would marry!

So she leapt to the ground, as light as a faerie

She whispered to him, “Your present will do,”

And the man woke and said, “How glad I am to see you!”

“My darling, my dear, before we are wed,

should I not know my groom’s name?” Rose said

“My name is Prince Thorn, of the Castle on the Hill.

I was banished for a lifetime, and longer still.”

“But why, my dear Thorn? Who would do such a thing?”

“My wicked uncle, who claimed the title of king.

He wanted the throne, and being so clever,

Thought up a plan to get rid of me forever.

He sent me away, and I could not return

Much to the castle servants’ concern.

He told me to find the fairest maiden around

Knowing that her feet had never touched the ground.

(Until I saw you, I never knew

That the fairest maiden around was you!)

He would allow me to rule again

With you by my side, and only then.”

Rose exclaimed, “Then, we must go now!”

And they walked for as long as their feet would allow

The Castle on the Hill, you see

Was far away from Rose and he

It would be a great many hours

‘Fore they saw the castle with its sparkling towers

But when at last it came in sight,

Rose let out a gasp of fright

Down in the depths of the castle moat

Were three crocodiles, each as big as a boat!

“Worry not,” the fearless prince said,

“For you, I will tear these beasts into shreds!”

But there was no need for the use of a blade

Even though Thorn was quite unafraid

The bridge dropped down from the castle walls

And in the archway, Thorn’s uncle stood tall

“So, my young nephew,” the wicked king said

“Rather than banished, you’ve returned instead.”

Thorn burned with rage and drew his sword

“You intend to fight me?” the king implored

Grandly, proudlyhe drew his own blade

And for Prince Thorn’s safety, the fair maiden prayed

In a flash of steel they started their duel

“You’ll never win!” the king said, cruel

But soon after, Thorn’s sword found its sheath

And the wicked king gasped, clenching his teeth

Seeing Thorn alive, Rose felt she could sing!

“My dear,” says she, “you are now king!”

So Thorn became king, with Rose as his queen

(She was the most beautiful ruler their subjects had seen)

The peasants ‘round the castle were full of joy and laughter

And the king and queen, of course, lived happily ever after.

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aaw, sweet cliche ending!