the princess that will never be saved

there are thoughts i am afraid to have
should it turn out they have power

thoughts about
the colors that will never be painted
the books that will never be read
the shows that will never be watched
the princess that will never be saved

i wonder
if light-years away on another planet
there is another mom
raking her bones over the same hot coals
that i keep tucked under my own bed sheets

it’d be comforting to know
i am not alone in wishing
my particular universe looked a tad bit different
even though the way that it looks now
is actually quite brilliant