The Third, the Youngest Son in Fairy Tales

His soul a glacial lake of deep humility,

The third will sacrifice his only mite of bread

When roadside witches beg, for he’s agreeable

And no encounter mars his cool tranquility

Or makes him lose all faith and wish that he were dead—

Not talking wolf or other unforeseeable

And fabulous inhabitant of fairy tales,

For he’s immune to dragon-slayer’s dread

And creep of flesh men find so disagreeable:

He’ll rule because he trusts the way, and never quails

From all that’s seeable.

About Marly Youmans

Marly Youmans is the author of fourteen books of poetry and fiction. Her latest poetry collection is The Book of the Red King, following the narrative of a transforming Fool, a mysterious Red King, and the ethereal Precious Wentletrap (Montreal: Phoenicia Publishing, 2019.) Her latest novel is Charis in the World of Wonders.