Cinderella Dream

The princess comes down her stairs
Flowers in her wake, her dress trails
On the floor behind her.
She lifts her eyes to view the crowds
Raises a hand, polite greeting
But no cheering comes, no sound of thrill
Instead they mock, scorn her to tears
She turns in flight and flees
She reaches her room, finds the mirror
Looks in fear and desperation
Her dress is no longer regal and royal
Tatters cling
Shreds, barely hiding scarred skin
Malnourished
Calloused and dirty
Hair in a tangle,
Sooty and smelly
She cries out in terror
Becomes a sobbing heap of rags
Looks up
Her mansion is gone
She lies in straw, her cold bed
Her dream shattered
She curls as a wilted flower
And cries back to blissful sleep