Disney Movies Ruined My Life–Joan Mazza
The messages promised rescue
to the girl who’s been abused, ignored.
She’s discovered no matter where
she’s been hiding, soon revealed
as beautiful and wanted, smart.
The liberation isn’t easy, with scary
obstacles to overcome: witches, snakes,
or poison apples, that evil stepmother
you and your father must forsake. The story
has some magic, and asks the audience
to take a leap of faith, along with a belief
in fairy godmothers who provide all the goods
you need. Covered in ashes and soot?
Have nothing proper to wear? In she waltzes
with the means for gowns and glass slippers
and no lace so rough it chafes. Everything
sparkles, a coach comes to pick you up
so you don’t have to drive a squealing
pickup truck, or a magic carpet floats
down without your having to stick out
a lovely thumb. Here comes the kiss
to awaken you, not put you in the trance
of the terminally stupid. And look:
seven dwarfs appear to do the crappy
chores. Be happy! You can spin gold!
For those who ask if my hopes could
have been more realistic, I say, Listen,
you can’t find a prince even if you advertise.
Please know I really tried. What I found
were beasts and frogs that lied and lied.
***
Joan Mazza has worked as a medical microbiologist, psychotherapist, and taught workshops nationally on understanding dreams and nightmares. She is the author of six self-help psychology books, including Dreaming Your Real Self (Penguin/Putnam). Her poetry has appeared in Crab Orchard Review, The MacGuffin, Slant, Prairie Schooner, Poet Lore, The Nation, and many other publications. She lives in rural central Virginia and writes every day.