The Princess Takes a Nap

The Fairy-Tale Poem

Once there was a real live prince who

Wanted a real wife.

So off he went on world-wide travels,

Almost all of his young life.

But when the real princess still failed

To show her lovely face

The prince was quite beside himself

Fearing public disgrace.

‘Till one night a storm came

All throughout the land.

A princess showed at Prince’s door

Asking for his hand.

The prince was happy for a bride

But all the same inside

He wished to know if she was real

And told her, “Come and bide.”

For time was short the queen knew

And looking at her son

She decided to take into hands

The future of the one.

Into Princess’ room she stole

While the prince was at his sup.

And placed a small pea under the mat,

Hoping Princess wouldn’t act up.

Under twenty mattresses’

Or so, I understood

The queen put down the tiny pea,

Doing what she could.

The princess went to bed that night

With confidence she tried

To take a nice long rest, but in that bed

It was denied.

For that sweet rest was not to be

Instead, a bumpy ride.

And though the princess wanted sleep

She was destined to be bride.

The night passed long and tedious

For poor, real Princess Grace.

And though a frown was there right now

A smile would be on her face.

The morning dawned lovely and bright,

And quick as possibly

Grace got up and off the bed

Which had plagued her terribly.

In the morning, Grace was asked

How had she slept last night.

To which she said, “Oh horribly,

I felt something all night.”

“Under my mattresses’, O Queen,

I felt like I must be

Dreaming, but I woke this morning

Finding there a pea.”

Then much rejoicing was there now

For all throughout the land,

It was proclaimed the prince had found

A real bride for his hand.

The prince was married joyfully,

And happily she wed

The man dreamed of through the night

In that pea-ridden bed.

Now in a quiet land I’ve heard,

Far across the sea.

A young new princess now is found,

Sleeping beautifully.

On top of what her mother slept:

A bright new pearl of a pea.

But I’m not sure if it’s true or not.

You’ll have to look and see.