Ode To Mr. Thatsher

She lived outside my dream:  I couldn't give her one.
How do you rescue a princess who doesn't believe in dragons?

"Don't tell me of princes;
Don't sell me that tale.
I followed it once before;
Your promise is too frail.
So I won't believe in dragons;
I won't send you for the grail.
I won't dream that dream again.
And watch Camelot fail."

She lived outside my dream; I couldn't give her one.
How do you rescue a princess who doesn't believe in dragons?

"Out here in the world,
I'll live with joy and pain.
The pain I'll conquer on my own,
And laugh and love again.
Far easier to build on earth,
Easier to repair,
Than wounds from shattered dreams
From princes of the air."

She lived outside my dream; I couldn't give her one.
How do you rescue a princess who doesn't believe in dragons?

"So," she said, "Pursue your dream.
She'll be full beautiful; a faery's child.
Her hair is long; her feet are light,
And her eyes are wild.
She'll take you to her elfin grot,
And there she'll sigh and soar,
And there you'll shut her wild, wild eyes
With kisses four."

Why must you live outside that dream:  Why won't you come?
Why won't you be that princess then and believe in dragons?

"Because I won't lull you to that sleep
And make you dream it all
With its pale and empty country side
When La Belle Dame Sans Merci hath thee enthralled.
But when you end on the cold hill's side,
Wandering all alone,
You'll find me planting there,
Waiting when dreams are done.

She lived outside my dream; I couldn't give her one.
A princess without dragons is hope when dreams are gone.

Starr Chamber
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