Once upon a time,
in a lullaby far, far away --
the wicked witch died
and the beautiful princess
married her handsome prince.

The blissful pair rode off
on his snowflake stallion
to a remote castle in the sky
where no children were born,
in the silent, frozen edifice.

No servant would remain,
no visitors graced their home,
no peddler visited twice,
no birds perched in rafters,
and no flowers sprinkled nearby hills.

The princess's voice grew shrill
her prince withdrew silently
the rooms echoed with emptiness
and the false notes of a sullen eyrie.
They were never seen again.

© D. Tongco 1999 and 2005 (revised from the original version)