Rumpelstiltskin
Poem - by Cislyn Smith
I'd never spun straw into gold before
but transmutation is an easy thing
a child's trick
for someone like me
and the poor thing
was desperately needy
in the hands of that greedy king
(to be honest
I've never been a fan of monarchs)
so yes
I did a favor for her
a little thing
all in one night
of course I reminded her
that all magic has a cost
but know this:
it wasn't me who set the price.
I was shocked that she would offer
angry, too, thinking that she
must be trying to cheat me
but soon I came to see
that this was for the best
if she didn't want her firstborn
then I would be all too happy
to take the infant
to spin a home out of magic
for this unwanted babe
then she started
searching
for clues
for cheats
for my true name
and I knew for certain
she never intended to honor our bargain
still
that didn't mean she deserved
that which she offered to give away
so yes I let her guess
and yes she struggled
so hard for a name
(syllables strung together at random -
just what does she think fairy names
sound like anyway?)
I let her think she won the little game
but two can play at such sport
when the rules are there for bending
we were never well matched
she and I
transformation is an easy trick, as I said
and she can enjoy
the crying feral kitten
in the royal cradle
and gloat over her victory
believing she bested me
and as for you my darling
I will never give you back
never ever
my changeling child
my little human love
not for magic, not for pity
and certainly not
for a name