A/N: I feel this poem needs a bit of background so I'm going to give my two cents before I start. The message behind "Not a Cinderella Story" was sparked by the first poetry slam I attended (where I was enthralled and cowed by the excellent performances in equal measure). It stems from my feeling of inadequacy afterward. Without further ado...copyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡtuNpmxYyQg
Not a Cinderella Storycopyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9YAYEEPSi
So I’ve never done this beforecopyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYIm6kYbUP
and now that I’m herecopyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡhok4OGCMfs
I have nothing to say.copyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xC17AFMpy
.copyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lxNID7GP2
Nothing compared tocopyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6rQbfxN1N
poems spun from silver,copyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5kS6stMfT
diamond dewdropscopyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkeR7WveDk
glistening in morning sunrayscopyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9qI0BXxpZ
set on iridescent spider silk webs.copyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡlF4Gyb81Xo
.copyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiI9aQ6F5K
No. My poem is like acopyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmUq5U22ss
blundering giant.copyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2N76tGiCHf
Ground shaking footsteps,copyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CyJMJASoF
a trail of broken treetopscopyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡCo2wP7rSaT
left in its wakecopyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcGrja8BMP
like twigs underfoot.copyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNspxe877x
.copyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJWPgLWHE7
My words are like leaden letterscopyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYkiqDsyef
falling off leather tonguescopyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡo62QwA4EHc
which are nothing likecopyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuV9kcVhUz
trilobite fossils,copyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡovxIOXmgvB
slender filaments of calcified shellcopyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUHzKd9PSR
etched into rock forever.copyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡ14mXeGa9X4
.copyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡImAf5odrFJ
I cannot compare tocopyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bDJKnXUdP
finely woven tapestriescopyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡLeU7c8OmhM
with fairy tale imagescopyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZ81fdqsF6
that seem to jump off the page.copyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHiOr3coXp
.copyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJE8RQhFcy
So I’m stuck standing in the shadows,copyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDyAFNN6gs
afraid to be left in the darkcopyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsavgBzt0w
but also afraid to step forwardcopyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡSegwn7mEMz
lest the spotlight focus in,copyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡdecLOSzCZQ
blinding.copyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cifHzRg2S
.copyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡNV63subP8Y
But sometimes I’m trapped in the spotlight anywaycopyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡolcB71tHEs
and Rumpelstiltskin’s name lodges in my throat.copyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKFP0noREr
Awkward syllables scattered across the floorcopyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrmRvPlHEt
like bracelet beads,copyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2PSDXT7Ey
no order to shape meaningcopyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbif0iDpah
from random letters in alphabet soup.copyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUJeLe37VH
.copyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBKqtonnv1
And I’m standing here waiting forcopyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6demewZEG
Prince Charming to sweep me off my feetcopyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvB0KneNua
and save me from my blundering giants,copyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5LfvfDTC9
and broken braceletscopyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyg8MDmiD1
but this isn’t a fairy tale.copyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUwBUgY84s
There aren’t any evil step-mothers, glass slippers, or princes.copyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzx5P3ksXW
.copyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSuT1gwoz9
So I’m left to face my dragons alone in their lairscopyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡpz3WaXc86h
where gold puddles mix with dragon flamecopyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqQ9vFcP8a
as my words are torched and set to burn.copyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡML2gE4xbt6
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And my own inner demons shutter mecopyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAS9KoPWdX
into my past like Cinderella’s step-mother lockedcopyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZJ9goeNzH
her in the attic to silence her.copyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUAAjprFrr
.copyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8K21TMpIJD
I am silenced toocopyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQDq0TOeHo
because discontent roils in Moby Dick’s stomach.copyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBjwcCVEin
A choppy sea does not lend to smooth sailing.copyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6r78s0VSJE
.copyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqu9Ru3GJK
And I am lost because I cannot move forwardcopyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Fmnbz07ei
without knowing who I was,copyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡukKBtdCo6m
and I can’t see the point because I cannot write a poem.copyright protection226ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CNxME2QkL
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