II. The Night the Queen Endured
J. Antonio Rivera
The monster’s groan would come before
Its shadow crossed the bedroom floor.
A sound that taught the walls to shake,
A breath that made the castle ache.
The queen would rise, her crown askew,
Still standing when the storm blew through.
Her voice grew soft, her steps grew slow,
So I would never have to know.
When rubies fell, I turned away,
Pretending dawn would cure the day.
For fairytales all clearly say:
Look too long, and curses stay.
She tucked me in with trembling hands,
A hero no one understands.
No sword, no spell, no victory cry—
Just love that chose to not let die.
The monster shrank when morning came,
Daylight steals a terror’s flame.
But castles keep what walls have heard,
And children keep what’s never learned.
