cinderella

When the clock strikes midnight
in the castle of despair,
she is a Cinderella
running promptly down the stairs.

She speeds back home to safety-
never leaves behind a shoe.
No dark prince can follow where she goes,
far from the halls of gloom.

Far from the ballroom's lofty music,
she now hums a simple tune-
sheds her costume, feeds the mice,
bends to pick up a broom.