Ellen Huang
Snogging Frogs
I'm told it's sweet, the first kiss
There's fairy balm upon my lips,
there's strawberries to taste,
& then there's drinking,
& then there's a feast.
Upon my lips is the first time,
something that must be broken
at just the right time—
Bottled princess virginity,
sparkling eternal youth.
The frog never asked for a kiss
exactly, but worse. To be kept,
to eat from my plate and drink
from my goblet, to sleep in a
bundle of sheets by my bed.
You understand why I threw
him. You understand why
the wall splattered.
You understand why I chopped
off his head.
Then a human prince emerged,
naked, from the wet frogskin.
I'm told he was handsome.
I'm told I should have given him
a chance. I'm told
the kiss would have
turned sweet.
But there is only the frog
only the tadpole
only the wet amphibian
where there should have been
transformation.
Nothing's worked yet.
There's fairy balm upon my lips,
there's strawberries to taste,
& then there's drinking,
& then there's a feast.
Upon my lips is the first time,
something that must be broken
at just the right time—
Bottled princess virginity,
sparkling eternal youth.
The frog never asked for a kiss
exactly, but worse. To be kept,
to eat from my plate and drink
from my goblet, to sleep in a
bundle of sheets by my bed.
You understand why I threw
him. You understand why
the wall splattered.
You understand why I chopped
off his head.
Then a human prince emerged,
naked, from the wet frogskin.
I'm told he was handsome.
I'm told I should have given him
a chance. I'm told
the kiss would have
turned sweet.
But there is only the frog
only the tadpole
only the wet amphibian
where there should have been
transformation.
Nothing's worked yet.
Biography
|
Ellen Huang (she/her) is an ace writer of fairy tales with a BA in Writing + Theatre minor from Point Loma Nazarene University. She is a peer reviewer (née Managing Editor) of Whale Road Review. She is published/forthcoming in 50+ venues including Elemental Anthologies; Mookychick; White Stag; Sword & Kettle Press; From the Farther Trees; FERAL Lit; Nymphs; Rhythm & Bones; Three Drops from a Cauldron; and Gingerbread House. She also runs a blog where she explores her spirituality with books and movies. She lives in San Diego with her pan roommate and a dragon. Find her on social media:
Twitter @nocturnalxlight and via blog: worrydollsandfloatinglights.wordpress.com |
