Narrative Poem: Your Highness





The prince of Far Away, filled with delight,




Went running outside the palace one night.




With a spring in his step and a smile on his face,




He proceeded in running up and down the place.





The crescent moon shown down on the scene,




And the creatures came out, seen and unseen.




The earthy smell of the forest crept through the air,




And the prince suddenly felt a sense of despair.




A sinister laugh came from behind the prince,




Which made leap in fear and shout and wince.




He turned in the direction of the sound,




Searching frantically all about and around.





From a nearby bush there came a rustling,




That sent the birds flying and the insects bustling.




And out of the bush an old woman arose,








Who was short and frail with a long pointy noise.




A shiny black cloak covered her body and head,




And the young prince shook in fear and dread,




At the strange old woman who stood ahead.
“Come here, Your Highness,” she said with a deceitful smile,
With her crooked teeth and darkness and guile.
The night had grown darker and the palace looked serene,
But tonight was not at all routine.

The old woman stepped toward him with her wrinkled feet,
And you could hear the prince’s wild heartbeat.
He knew he shouldn’t have been out this late,
But he had been childish and made the mistake.

The old woman began: “you should not be out at this time, you never know what you will find!”
“Are you still afraid child? I think I can change your mind.”
An apple she pulled out from her cloak,
Which she began to touch and prod and poke.
The fruit looked delicious but had a mysterious glare,
And the prince knew immediately he must beware.
“Come here, Your Highness, and have a bite,
For you look so very hungry tonight.”

The prince’s mouth began to water, for it was true,
He was hungry as a dog and he knew it too.
But the prince resisted for he remembered what his Father used to say:
“Beware of the strangers that are out when its late, for they could bring you a horrible fate.

The old woman’s eyes were red with evil and hate,
As she urged the boy to take her bait.
The prince fumbled through his pockets and felt his father’s knife,
And he knew what he must do tonight.
The old woman leaned in close and whispered “Just one bite”
And the prince pushed her away and with all his might,
He pierced her heart with the tip of his knife.

The witch staggered backwards and her skin turned cold,
And the prince yielded his weapon confident and bold.
She fell to the ground and began to vaporize,
As she wailed and yelled and cried,
Her poisonous apple began to shrivel,
And all that was left was the core in the middle.

The prince was victorious as the witch was dead,
So he ran back to the palace and went to bed.