The Frog Prince


I am a frog 
I live under a spell  
I live at the bottom  
of a green well.

And here I must wait  
Until a maiden places me  
On her royal pillow 
And kisses me 
In her father's palace.

The story is familiar 
Everybody knows it well
But do other enchanted people feel as nervous  
As I do? The stories do not tell,

Ask if they will be happier  
When the changes come 
As already they are fairly happy  
in a frog's doom?

I have been a frog now 
For a hundred years 
And in this time 
I have not shed many tears,

I am happy, I like the life, 
Can swim for many a mile   
(When I have hopped to the river)   
And am forever agile.

And the quietness,  
Yes, I like to be quiet  
I am habituated  
To a quiet life,
 
But always when I think these thoughts  
As I sit in my well 
Another thought comes to me and says: 
It is part of the spell

To be happy 
To work up contentment 
To make much of being a frog  
To fear disenchantment

Says, it will be heavenly 
To be set free, 
Cries, heavenly, the girl who disenchants  
And the royal times, heavenly, 
And I think it will be.

Come then, royal girl and royal times,   
Come quickly, 
I can be happy until you come 
But I cannot be heavenly,  
Only disenchanted people can be heavenly.