“Once upon a time,

There was a princess”

I would tell my very own princess,

As she snuggled under her covers.

Because every girl’s dreams

Began with a fairy tale.

And I would tell her

Just before she drifted off

That not all princesses

needed some prince charming

and his smelly white horse.

If there is ever a time she feels

as useless as a white crayon

I would spin her around and tell her

To go find that someone

Who prefers black paper

Over white

And to start their own masterpiece

And if that someone with the black paper

Changes his mind

And she feels abandoned,

I would sit her down on the couch

And slide in the CD for the movie

With that clown and the blue fish

And teach her

“Just keep swimming”

Because there are other fish in the sea.

And when she starts thinking

That dreams never come true,

I would pull her outside

To stare at the shooting stars

And blow away the dandelion fuzz

And at 11:11 sharp,

We would both make our wishes.

Before I would usher her back

Into the house

I would teach her

That no matter how many wishes

we make on shooting stars

And dandelions

And the burning wax on birthday cakes

That the final outcome

Is produced through her own hard work

And if she ever wants to be successful

She’ll have to try hard

And work hard.

And where others have given up

And fallen,

She must persist

I would teach her,

That being unique is nothing

to be ashamed of.

And that no matter how different she may be

I would always be proud of her.

And if no two snowflakes are ever the same

Why should humans be?

And I would remind her

That I would stand behind her

No matter what she did

Whether it was a teacher,

Or if she ended up being a musician.

Or even a doctor.

But if, god forbid, I ever hear

Of her making fun of another,

She would face the wrath

Of an angry mother.

And I would teach her,

Once her wings have grown out

And she’s ready to fly,

That I’m oh so proud of her,

And the world is now ready for her,

And if she should ever stumble and fall,

I would be back home, arms open

Waiting for my baby princess.

And I would remind her

Every so often,

That no matter how successful

Or how famous she is

Or how much taller than me

She may be,

That she’ll always be

My little princess

And my baby princess,

Doesn’t need no prince charming

to sweep her off her feet.

And my baby princess,

May be a white crayon, but she’s ready for

That guy who uses black paper.

And my baby princess,

Will always keep swimming,

And never give up.

And my baby princess,

Will wish upon shooting stars,

and dandelion fuzz.

And my baby princess,

Will have her own

“Happily ever after”

Another poem for English class 
Prompt: What would you tell your child?