The Castle of Love: An Allegory

There once was a princess who lived in a castle. 

It's walls were high. It's moat was wide. 

Within the walls, the princess could play, 

but outside the walls, "No, no way!"

Her jewelry might break. She might dirty her dress.

Stay inside she must, yes, yes!

The father's rules were really quite strict,

but there was nothing to do 

to change his perspective.

Even when the princess had grown

the father's close watch could not ever be thrown,

for the father's good knights roamed far and wide,

and always made sure the princess 

came back safe inside.

But one day a suitor came knocking 

and after some time, he started talking.

The father gave blessing

and the suitor, impressing

asked the girl out to town.

The princess was shocked 

when the drawbridge went down,

but when the knight knelt on one knee,

she started to see, 

that one day she might want 

her own family.

As wedding plans were made,

and rules started to fade.

The princess gained perspective.

for the castle and its jewels,

the king could care less,

but for his dear daughter, 

he wanted the best.

He'd built up the castle 

and enhanced all its walls

not to keep her in

but to keep others out.

The castle showed his love

until a day would draw near

when the princess would recognize

what he'd wanted her to hear:

"You have value."

And then out of his sight,

off into the night

he'd send her with a new protector,

a great knight she would choose

a one to whose castle

she'd now say, "I do."

To the man who taught me to love, so that I might one day love another,

Happy Father's Day!