the frog prince

It’s final – I will not be swayed.
I want to stay a frog. I’ve weighed
The pros and cons of palace life:
Too many cons - distrust is rife,
And envy (green just like my skin),
The driving force among my kin,
Will be the end of them one day.
No going back - I want to stay
Content upon my lily pad.
And no, I don’t believe I’m mad:
I’ve grown up heaps (well, not in size).
I’m sleek and nimble - and, besides,
No royal orchestra can choke
My charismatic throaty croak.
Back to decorum? Shudder, yawn.
Who wants a manicured lawn
To walk upon? I’d rather splash
In pebbly shallows – nothing flash
But I enjoy the soothing flow
Without the boring comme il faut
Of royal life. You get the gist.
It’s final – I will not be kissed
(Such inexplicable caprice!)
And turned into a common prince.
The very notion makes me frown.
Although I think I’ll keep the crown
(Of which I’ve grown extremely fond)
In case one day I rule the pond.

Illustration: Maja Lindberg