beware the princesses who were raised by dragons 

for they know how to mend their own dresses, 

fight with nothing but a sharpened shoe heel, 

and barter away your freedom with nothing 

but the jewels in their pockets. 

these princesses have no desire to be locked up 

in castles for the rest of their lives, may only 

marry princes to gain control of their armies, 

consult with witches instead of castle physicians. 

beware the princesses that warm 

your bed with only their bare breath, 

that wear dresses thicker than scales, 

that dance all night at balls and never tire. 

these princesses keep basilisks as pets, 

as other women raise kittens and puppies, 

practice archery and convince you to act 

as their dummy during target practice, 

eat fruit from the village market even if  

there is the threat of it being poisoned. 

beware the princesses who need not sit  

on a throne to reveal who they are, but  

simply allow a scaled tail to curl out  

from the back of their dress, and their  

fiery breath to shake the castle down.