A fairy Tale

A Fairy Tale
by Cal Morton Jr.

Roses dried in empty vases-
black as midnight in the Elysian fields.
My sister believed in fairy tales
and found her knight in shining armor
as I still search for my damsel in distress-
maybe Sleeping Beauty deserved this less.

And my mother opens the bedroom door
and finds my sister growing up
and maybe I can grow up too
but only if I can come up with an excuse.

And we'll find what we've always sought
and we'll grow old in an apartment by ourselves
but let's not and say we did
and then they'll burn us on the pyre.

Mother read us bedtime stories
to teach us what to want from life.
But what caring words were said to us
when "Hey, diddle-diddle" the cat lost his fiddle
and the dish died and widowed the spoon
while the cow was snorting crack over the moon?

But don't tell me that you've fallen in love-
don't tell me that love isn't real-
tell me this is what you've always wanted-
tell me we'll live a fairy tale.

And my mother opens the bedroom door
and finds my sister growing up
and maybe I should grow up too
but I don't know what to use as  an excuse.

And we'll find what we've always sought
and we'll grow old in an apartment by ourselves.
We'll live happily ever after
and then they'll bury us in the ground.