A boy
an adventurer
a beautiful warrior king
travelled the land
and he found a girl
a little peasant that he saw something in
and he looked down from his mount
and asked for her hand
or any other part she was willing to give.

And the peasant girl
stared up at the warrior / wizard / good-dancer / king
with smoky eyes
and she said no to him
explaining that his world
was not one she took comfort in
and that she found him pleasant enough
but not enough
and that he had best find another quest
to occupy his attention
– the sooner the better.

The king
always respectful of serfs
(even those in kingdoms adjacent)
sadly acknowledged the peasant’s feelings
and went on with his life
of living happily ever after.
He became the wisest leader
beloved by subjects and slutty maidens alike
and
though he thought of the peasant girl occasionally
he quickly proved himself worthy
of so much more.

The peasant girl
meanwhile
read from her father’s barn
of the ascent of the king.
Between her chores
the maid saw how respected and desired he was
and regretted her choice forevermore.

I am that peasant girl
and didn’t understand for a very long time
why I make only dumb choices
rejecting opportunities with gorgeous royalty
and sex-addict models
and rock stars in training
and
I realized
that the world cannot be filled
solely with the adventurous.
Someone has to sweep the barn
and slop the pigs.

Someone must be the coward
so the hero can be be seen
in stark relief.