I Was A ... Once

I was a princess once,
my hair piled in curls
around an emerald tiara,
spilling on my shoulders,
tumbling on red velvet.
I lived on the beach
in a sandcastle
that was immune to the waves
crashing on the rocks
and flooding the moat around it.
I lived with my prince
He laughed at my jokes,
and took away my diamond rings
only to give me rubies.
We ate chocolate together at every meal,
unless I wanted a rootbeer.

I was a cowgirl once,
my shirt tasseled
and my boots spiked.
Every once in a while
I would jump on my horse
and ride off into the sunset,
with a cloud of dust
billowing behind me.
I told no one where I was going
honestly, I didn't know myself.
My horse galloped on forever
Until I discovered the edge
of the world,
where I rested under an oak tree
and ate salad instead of beans,
and topped it off with ice cream.

I was an astronaut once,
my heart flip-flopping in my chest
at the exciting thought of take off
Floating around in the absence of gravity,
sticking my tongue out
and making faces in my space suit.
I could tumble, and cartwheel,
and make myself dizzy,
and yell "whoopee" and "woo-hoo"
like every astronaut should.
I would laugh and smile
with the aliens aboard my ship
as we would try to sit down
(floating up every time)
and feast on dehydrated
marshmallows.

I was a mermaid once,
my purple hair doused with
seashells that twinkled like
bells when I swam.
My tail was pink, my seashells
mauve.
I would bask on a rock
jutting above the sea,
and decorate my room
with glistening coral.
I didn't eat shellfish -
the shrimp were my friends,
as were the lobster and clams.
Instead, I munched on seaweed
and saltwater,
until I found out about Big Macs.

I was me once ...
sitting on my bed with
a pen in my hand,
Wishing I was a movie star.
I would eat caviar,
and drink champagne ...

by A. P., Buckfield, ME