realism

And where's my
Knight in shining armor?
Where's his white horse?
His polished saddle?
His valiant beast-slaying?
His eyes as blue as sapphires?
His voice like a dream?

And where's my
Golden braid?
Where's my gorgeous vocals?
My bread and cheese?
My soft, feather bed?
My favorite novels?
My impossibly high tower?

And where's your
Story book?
Where's your colored pictures?
Your bedtime tale?
Your comfy pajamas?
Your mother's soft voice?
Your father tucking you in?

And where's my
Head gone?
Where's my sagacity?
My maturity?
My sense of realism?
My textbooks and dead, white men?
My 10-page essay?

It's gone.

Just for this moment
When I can remember
Wishing as a young girl
In my teddy-bear pajamas
That someday
My prince would come.