I gave a sacrifice of skin and bones;
She slew the dragon fruit with orchid eyes
Once pasted 'gainst her skull in sky-green tones.
The hirsute holly held the best disguise.
Now round the garden goes our best intent.
Said four a.m., "the timorous must flee.
For this, the summer of our discontent
We must be brought to bare our hearts to thee."
The clock struck half past four and she is near,
Resplendent in her candled fairy home
Accepting homage for her fourteenth year
And casting minstrels out into the gloam.
O Queen of Arts, you bring this rhyme to close
With fourteen lines, a nightmare, and a rose.
postscript
Unbirthday Literature Contest Our beloved home-on-the-internet turns fourteen (with a special "Alice in Wonderland" theme) this week, and we all know what "fourteen" means: acne, the step-and-sway at awkward school dances, and confusing emotions. Or, it means a 14-themed, surrealist literature contest hosted by CRLiterature ! This one allows both poetry and prose submissions, so there's something for everyone. Contest Rules Dates NOW to Aug 19th, 2014, midnight PST (14 days long) Tone Surrealism - blur the line between reality and the unconscious Types of Entries Both Poetry and Prose Poetry your entry must be a sonnet of 14 lines (for more about sonnets, check out this excellent article by futilitarian ) Prose your entry must be a complete story, exactly 14 sentences long Submission respond to this journal with a link to your submission and the words "CONTEST" and either "POETRY" or "PROSE" Also your submission must have a link to She's having her 14th birthday. Let's all go paint the kingdom red.