Three Poisons Poem by Harley White

[Narration and song lyric from my version of "The Wild Swans" (by Hans Christian Andersen) ]

Narration:

When Elyse reached fifteen years of age
She was sent for and home she returned,
But her beauty filled the Queen with rage.—
Now her evil heart with hatred burned.

The Queen would gladly have cast a spell
To make Elyse a wild swan as well
As her brothers, but she dared not straightaway,
For the King wished to see his daughter. So one day
She hatched a plan of wicked spite.
In the early morning's rosy light
The Queen went into the great palace bath,
Adorned with soft cushions, of marble built,
And unloosed her plot of venomous wrath
To imbue Elyse with slander and guilt.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Three Poisons"

[Stepmother / Queen sings (regarding Elyse) : ]

Three poisons, three poisons I'll give to this miss—
So witty, so pretty, so sweet.
With legerdemain these three toads I will kiss,
To make their enchantment complete.

My toads I will put into the clear water,
Which they'll turn a venomous green;
And then I will bathe the king's darling daughter.
I'll tell you she won't end up clean!

Now prestidigitation, do your trick!
You, little toad, are the first one I'll pick.
Hasten to hop atop Elyse's head.—
Render her stupid and dispirited.

My second toad, then you must sit
Right on her brow lickety-split,
So she may become as ugly as you—
Not a bit like the girl her father knew.

Now for my little toad number three—
You, too, must do your part.
With a witch's kiss I'll set you free—
Go and rest upon her heart.

Curse her with the foulest mind,
An evil spirit unrepented;
Let her only anguish find
and with wicked thoughts be tormented.

Three poisons, three poisons I'll give to this miss—
So witty, so pretty, so sweet.
With legerdemain these three toads I did kiss.—
Their enchantment is now complete!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Then the toads cursed as we've just seen
Were put into the water by the Queen.—
At once it took on a tinge of green.

Now to the bath Elyse she called.
Undressed her, and made her go
Into the water. The first toad crawled
Into her hair with a hop or so—
And there the vile creature clung;
The second toad onto her forehead hung;
And the third attached itself to her breast.
But Elyse seemed not the least impressed—
With such innocence was she blessed; —
For when out of the water she did rise,
To the Queen's horrified surprise,
The toads were to be seen nowhere.—
Three scarlet poppies floated there.

Elyse was so good and pure within
They'd have been red roses, we insist,
Had not the beasts so poisonous been
And by an evil sorceress kissed, —
Though, mind you, flowers they became
By merely resting on her head and heart.
The power of witchcraft was put to shame.
Yes, virtue proved a nobler art.