10 Days of Spring Fantasy Contest Book

"Beauty's Crown" - Day 8/Poetry

Beauty's Crown

The young sprite gazed into the pool
in forest dark and shadows cool.
She longed for what she did not have
and words of comfort were no salve
to console her or give her peace.

Her beauty the reflection showed;
the sparkling eyes, the hair that flowed
like sunlight through the trees above
but none of this could make her love
for the mirrored self increase.

She shared the beauty nature gave
with others – constant to the grave –
but wanted to be seen unique,
beyond reproach, beyond critique.
Vanity clouded her eyes.

She dreamt each night, within her heart,
of how she could be set apart
from others of the spirit kind.
It came to her, within her mind,
there was a way to claim her prize.

Something of beauty, to adorn
above the station she was born.
Perhaps a crown, a dress, a ring,
why it could be most anything.
Yet, what and how escaped her.

She spied one day a maiden fair,
a comely girl with flaxen hair
bound with a circlet as a crown
to keep her hair from falling down.
An idea took shape in her.

She gathered strands of silvered light
she captured from the moon when bright
and wove them with threads of the sun;
a chain was formed when she was done
but her plan was not complete.

She gathered poppies, vibrant red
and lilacs from a woodland bed
to create a shining diadem
that sparkled like the stars, and then
she proudly placed it on her head.

As she gazed into the pool,
she saw the crown – but not the fool
who never had the lesson learned:
that beauty was not bought or earned.
It comes from deep inside.

Beauty may be judged without
but few will understand the route
to real beauty's truth. It shines within.
Its source deeper than the surface skin.
It comes from inner pride.

Day 8 entry for "Invalid Item" 
Prompt: Image
Form: Quintains rhymed AABBC DDEEC.