The Bottle

The Bottle
                                                                     Frank Halliwell

Aunt Prudence wasn't ugly, but she certainly was plain,
And beaux had never lined up for her hand.
She lived her life in fantasy that some dark handsome swain
Would someday take her to her promised land.

She'd have a crystal castle high above a turquoise sea
On a verdant land beneath a gentle sky.
And she'd listen to soft music while she sipped her morning tea
While soft breezes through the frangipanis sigh.

She often-times confided in Sir Lancelot; her cat,
How her prince would someday wander by her side...
And carry her; compliant; to her cosy castle flat,
And there she would become his blushing bride.

The small beach was deserted where she strolled with her black cat
And he looked around with baleful yellow eyes.
In the surf was a small bottle, very close to where she sat,
And she picked it it up amid the seagulls' cries..

It was old, and stoppered tightly shut, and badly battered too,
And had floated in the sea for many years.
She struggled with the stopper that seemed held in place by glue,
When released the giant filled her heart with fears...

It was, of course, a Genie, as is known around the world
That appeared within a cloud of crimson smoke.
'Three wishes ma'am, is all you get, for getting me unfurled,
So make it quick, this isn't any joke! '

She told him shyly of her dream of love and wealth and lust,
On an island floating in a limpid sea,
And of the handsome prince in whom she could place all her trust,
'And he will worship no one else but me! '

The Genie looked for objects to complete the task at hand,
..A nearby rock became the verdant isle.
Some driftwood formed the castle, high above the golden sand,
The cat became a prince in regal style.

..And so they came to keep their tryst above the azure sea,
He gazed into her eyes and held her near..
Her loving eyes said 'take me now', a soft unspoken plea..
But glinting in his eye; a single tear...

He gazed upon her slender form, with tender love undying,
'I'll do my best', he said, 'but I'm afraid...
That life would be so happy, and a lot more satisfying
If just last year, you hadn't had me spayed!
                                   ***

Copyright © Frank Halliwell | Year Posted 2013

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