misunderstood (sleeping beauty)

look me in the eyes.

tell me, what do you see?

*

someone who cowers

and heeds every plea?

*

do you see someone shy

someone lacking defense?

perhaps you see someone

without confidence?

*

well i’m here to say

first impressions can lie.

from the first, sweet hellos

to the final goodbye

*

you can go a whole life

never known as you should.

i should know – it’s my self

that’s been misunderstood.

*

all of my skittishness

all of my fear

had its own cause, beyond

that which pleases your ear

*

and none of my favors–

kindness, overdid–

not one has been done

yet for your benefit

*

i protected myself

the best way i knew how.

when the rain came

my own head i did bow

*

and in the long night

i found shelter, and heat

by preserving my light

(though its flicker was weak)

*

from all of the stimuli

all of the fear

this cross that was never

my burden to bear

*

but one i was dealt

long before i was born.

this curse was my gift–

briar rose and her thorn

*

look at me now.

pray, what is it you see?

*

perhaps i’m transforming

into a new me?

*

or maybe i’m finally

not quite so opaque?

*

you can hear me, and see me?

well, make no mistake–

*

this woman is the person

i’ve been all along.

outside, i was trembling

inside, i was strong

*

knowing one day, somehow

i would burst into song–

sleeping beauty means night

but aurora means dawn