You’d think the younger daughter was lucky--
speaking in diamonds, jewels and gold when she talked--
but she had to be watched by the royal guard
everywhere she sat or walked
because thieves wanted the treasures
that fell from her mouth when she conversed
so tried to kidnap her, and hold her hostage
for ransom or worse.
Her husband, the prince, worried constantly about her
and developed heart palpitations and an anxiety disorder.
Meanwhile, the older daughter
(driven into the forest alone, because she talked so ugly)
met a nice herpetologist who found
the many species slithering from her mouth fascinating to study.
He also appreciated her honesty
and how her speech was never glitzy.
So, unlike her little sister, the older daughter never had to worry
about someone not liking her for herself
and led a simpler, safer life
free from overscrutiny.
Lorraine Schein is a New York writer. Her work has appeared in Gargoyle, Strange Horizons, Nonbinary Review, Evil Girlfriend Media, and the anthologies Gigantic Worlds, Drawn to Marvel, Aphrodite Terra, and Mosaics: An Anthology of Independent Women. Her poetry book, The Futurist’s Mistress, is available from mayapplepress.com.
Lorraine Schein is a New York writer. Her work has appeared in Gargoyle, Strange Horizons, Nonbinary Review, Evil Girlfriend Media, and the anthologies Gigantic Worlds, Drawn to Marvel, Aphrodite Terra, and Mosaics: An Anthology of Independent Women. Her poetry book, The Futurist’s Mistress, is available from mayapplepress.com.
Art by Amanda Bergloff.
