A dear friend of mine, Christina Howell, published a creative nonfiction article recently entitled True Love, Fairy Tales, and George R.R. Martin which is hilarious, heartfelt, and thought-provoking. Is love worth the risks? Is everything we dream about love a fairytale? Christina’s article holds nothing back. Please be sure to visit HerStory to give it a read.

Her article inspired the poem below. I’d love to hear your thoughts on Christina’s journey as well as your own experiences and beliefs about love and the fairytale promise of a happily ever after.

Fairytale Love

Burn three wishes on one orgasm.
Fit your feet in high heels
to woe him.
Lose your voice to gain footing,
but remember,
long legs are an illusion.
Attempt to tame the beast within him,
but don’t ask too many questions.
Be fragrant, but willing to kiss
all his hideous bits.

Remember,
your hair is a ladder to your face.
Your feelings must remain frozen
to scale his glacial heart.
You are an ogre, so
hide your mistakes,
but relish his unmasked flaws.

Most importantly, wait.

It is not your job to seek
true love; be patient.
Take a decade-long nap, if needed.
Let him kidnap your mind,
your body, your heart.
Love will make its own selection.
Believe in the pea below the pile
of dirty mattresses.
Be regal, and well-read.
There’s no princess alive or dead
who goes unwed.

© 2022 | K.Hartless

Artwork: Yasna Godovanik

38 responses to “Fairytale Love”

  1. Your imagery really grabs K – expresses so much.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you, VJ. I wanted to pull out all the ridiculous things women do in fairytales. But, I think my list just got started really.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. I know…the list is endless…and even though these are fairytale images, they are sadly not far off the truth.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Yes, that is very true. The bound feet, the painted faces, the passivity. Agreed. Thank you for engaging in this article/piece, VJ.

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Tom Avatar

    Thanks for sharing such an intriguing article – loved your poignant verses on the pitfalls before finding true love & the hugely different standards we set for men and women. Brilliantly written! 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

    1. I’m so glad you liked the article and the poem, Tom. 💜 There are so many double standards. I was thinking the other day, I quite like my face. I don’t think I need to wear makeup. why should I have to put something on my face to be “presentable?” I think the imbalance of gender equality is linked to these sorts of uneven behaviors. As far as finding love, I like to look for a mind I want to curl up with not so much a body. Maybe this is just another type of fairytale, though.

      Liked by 3 people

      1. Tom Avatar

        Nicely put! That’s a good dream well worth aiming for! ❤ Really enjoyed your insight on this 🙂

        Liked by 2 people

      2. Love this thought! Curling up with a mind can be way deeper, intenser than any bodily form. Well said 👍

        Liked by 2 people

      3. Yes, I agree. I love a good kindred spirit either found in real life, in a book, or in the virtual world.

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Love? I’m glad it happewned at 30 not 20. Even so, it’s f’in hard work!

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Yes, I imagine it takes a lot of hard work being Prince Charming. 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Remember, ridicule is nothing to be scared of.

        I bet you don’t get that. Eighties joke. Pesky youngsters…

        Liked by 3 people

      2. I’ve never seen this. Oh man, it’s epic. I’m totally not scared now. Ridicule, bring it on.

        Like

      3. Adam Ant was basically the coolest guy around when I was early teens. He had hit after hit after hit. Check out Goody Two Shoes if you get the chance. Stand and Deliver.

        Liked by 1 person

  4. What stunning imagery! It is colorful, beautiful, and lyrical.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you, Jaya. The fairytales just flowed out of me this morning. Thank you for these kind words.

      Liked by 1 person

  5. “Be regal, and well-read.” This needs to be on a poster and framed.
    I love the honesty in your poem (and enjoyed your friend’s story – I wish I could imagine myself buying a one-way ticket to Scotland and staying…) I love to tease my daughter about how to treat her husband from all my experience with 1940’s and 50’s magazine advice!

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Thank you ever so kindly, Deb. Yes, those magazine. You should share them with all of us, as I can only imagine what they contain. I, too, love spontaneity, and try my best to make each day have its own little surprises. I’m so grateful for your thoughtful comments.

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Poetry Goddess Avatar
    Poetry Goddess

    Beyond my expectation. I love it!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Many thanks. What a wonderful comment.

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Jewish Young Professional "JYP" Avatar
    Jewish Young Professional “JYP”

    I really enjoyed this one

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you, JYP. It was super fun to craft and the article was really the impetus of it all.

      Like

  8. terrific piece; it covers all eventualities in a playful manner; love the tart humor: ‘take a decade long nap if needed ‘ 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Thank you, John. I think I could have even said century in the fairytale sense. I have been feeling a humor creeping over me, and I must say, I like it. Here’s the the chuckling chills. 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      1. humor makes the medicine go down 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Yes, a bottle more than a spoonful, may be needed. 😉

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Lol

        Liked by 1 person

  9. Well done! Loved this piece.
    Your points are truthful and I totally agree with them. Love finds everybody (if we’re willing to let ourselves be found 😉)
    We just need to have patience and wait for that love to come around!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you, Simone. These fairytales hold a lot of ancient views, and I agree that patience is important in all things, but I think that women shouldn’t be expected to passively wait for love. Love is an action and women can wield that word as well as any man, no? I’m so glad you came and shared your views on my piece. I’m so grateful that we are connected. Cheers!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Yes I definitely agree that woman need to be proactive too! We can’t just fold our arms and wait for “Mr Perfect” to arrive. We got to put our thought and effort into it to! I guess there needs to be that balance of trying and waiting too..
        Oh ye, am I glad we’ve found each other’s 😊 Great to read your posts and interact.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. 🦋 Thank you. Here’s to more great writing ahead.

        Liked by 1 person

  10. Wow. This is powerful. The alliteration is an excellent device that really rolls the reader along in this. And yet, even as you roll, you feel the punch of those lines in which the women of fairytales deliberately disappear themselves. Great write!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you, Worms. Well put. The vanishing and diminishing of a woman to glorify a man.

      Liked by 1 person

  11. I don’t know about a happily ever after, yet do know that any love worthwhile takes sacrifice, and includes both deep pain and pleasure. I love your poem, as for me, you address both of these facts beautifully. 💜

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Indeed. Wise reflection, Jeff. Thank you. The balance, that’s what I really crave. That feeling of calm. 💜

      Liked by 1 person

      1. You’re most welcome, K. I completely understand. Calm is favorable. 💜

        Like

  12. Such a powerful and relatable write, K.Hartless. So true in many ways! Too many good lines to quote, the whole thing is excellent 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you. A fairytale flood. I’m so glad you enjoyed this one.

      Liked by 1 person

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