Once upon a time in a land so fair,
Lived a pretty princess with long golden hair.
She lived in a castle, oh so grand,
Protected by guards, who were always at hand.

One day a prince came to visit her there,
With a present wrapped in paper so rare.
The princess was pleased, and her heart did skip,
For she knew it was a prize, she wanted to grip.

But the prince warned her, "be careful my dear,
For power and wealth can soon disappear.
A prison of gold, can be just as bad,
As a dark and damp cell, with walls so sad."

The princess listened, with a heart so pure,
For she knew that being private was the cure.
She didn't want to prevent others from seeing,
But some things in life are meant to be freeing.

The press came to know of the prince's advice,
And soon it was known to all, both naughty and nice.
For in this land, where kings and queens abound,
Knowledge is power, and it spreads all around.

So the princess learned, from the prince's words,
That being pretty is not all it affords.
For true beauty comes from wisdom and grace,
And love and kindness, in every embrace.

And with this newfound knowledge in her head,
She went on to rule, with a heart that led.
For probably no other princess could,
Have been as wise and good as she should.

So remember young ones, the lessons we learn,
Are the things in life, that make us discern.
The price of power can be too much to bear,
But with a heart of love, we can be fair.

Reflections

Here are some questions to ask kids to think about the poem:

1. Who are the main characters in the poem, and what do they teach us about power and privilege?
2. What is the prize that the princess receives, and why is it important for her to be careful?
3. What does the prince warn the princess about, and why is it important for her to be private sometimes?
4. What does the princess learn about being pretty, and why is wisdom and grace more important?
5. How does the princess use what she learns to become a good ruler?