She always had been the beautiful one
The first daughter of an ambitious couple
From a noble mother, royal fruit of an olden past
A proud father, public school gentleman.
Brought up to be a lady in manners and behaviour
She was put in a uniform sent to a private school
Where nuns instilled a curious notion advocating
Education could not be confined to books and programmes
It further engaged a spirit needing to be
Just as nurtured and refined. Piano lessons classic melodies
Strengthening sports horse riding and fencing
They told her she could be just about anything
A working woman a ballerina a wife an adventurer
Father called her ‘Princess’ she philosophised
On human nature existential paths through challenges
She faced with courage and elegance at moments
Displaying incredible determination to achieve what she wanted.
She dressed up like a million dollars, if she had to
Preferred throwing on old clothes to work on the land
Care for the garden, watch nature blossom turn olives
Into precious liquid gold. Who would have thought?
Jet setting between capitals, a villa and an apartment
They would take her for a rich woman unwilling to encage
Herself in an office yet she did until she had to
And now it’s over, she traded her career
For freedom city lights for country air
How could one ever guess she’s officially a pauper,
Counting savings to square the circle, set the records
Straight acknowledging that parents’ ambitions
Are not a prediction, the choice is solely hers to make,
She dreams away a lottery a sign of depression
She discovered fantasising is not as fancy as philosophising
Actually a tad inappropriate, for a lady.
Yet truth has a fascinating way of being
Unpredictable, and truth is she is exactly
Where she wants to be, filled with gratitude and glee
Cherishes her health and the endless possibilities
Uncertainty unceasingly unfolds afore her.
[Featured painting: Boreas by John William Waterhouse, 1903]