GloPoWriMo Day Twenty-Nine

A curse

Sleeping Beauty was once a baby

And so was I,

Though not a beauty,

I also received the gifts of mine


One fairy blessed me with

A particular, versatile voice

Another with a loving younger brother

That was yet to be born


A third gifted me some talents here and there,

And also cared for certain qualities,

But the latter, the non-invited,

Layed a curse upon my shoulders


And thus I quote: "May she live

With the silence I set on her lips,

A seal from the soul

That enclosures the shame


Trapped in her mind like

A dragon around the tower,

A mask on her head

And to her heart, a veil."


In certain versions of the classic fairytale Sleeping Beauty, various fairies or witches are invited to a princess’s christening, and bring her gifts. One fairy/witch, however, is not invited, and in revenge for the insult, lays a curse on the princess. Today, I’d like to challenge you to write a poem in which you muse on the gifts you received at birth — whether they are actual presents, like a teddy bear, or talents – like a good singing voice – or circumstances – like a kind older brother, as well as a “curse” you’ve lived with (your grandmother’s insistence on giving you a new and completely creepy porcelain doll for every birthday, a bad singing voice, etc.).

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