Song For All the Would-Have-Been Princesses
Consider the gall of the bullfrog,
throatily calling at night for a mate,
longing for a kiss from a Beauty
that could change his fate. Some say a frog
is the male sex. And girls
who kindly put their lips to its
are promised to get over their fears.
But what about the cowfrog?
No mammary glands, no sweet milk, all her eggs
outside herself -- not a frog in history
ever turned into a princess by a peck
on the cheek from an innocent boy,
as though female royalty and luck
sprout from other stuff. Once, before the Ranidae
were green and slimy, a young she-frog,
acting on impulse, shyly flirted with a prince.
She batted her eyes, big and bright as flash bulbs,
but, busily adjusting his white mink capelet,
the prince said to someone in his court,
"Get this commoner out of here! Does she not realize
such a scandal could cost me my throne?!"
And like St. Brigid, the defeated she-frog
might have mumbled, "Please God,
make me ugly, so I will no longer tempt men.
So I will no longer be tempted."
As though for a cowfrog, a would-be princess,
desire itself is shameful.
Ten Qualities as a Cosmo Girl I Really Want in My Man
for Jean Valentine, after seeing Bambi
I want a boyfriend with antlers.
(I read somewhere if I long in specifics, I'll be more likely
to get my wish.) A boyfriend like Bambi, he'll be the one for me.
He'll have sort of a feminine name
so I won't immediately think of cuss-words and muscles.
Yet he'll battle for my honor, save my life if he has to.
And when he fights, he and his opponent will turn into shadow.
He'll never be offensive. He'll have really good posture,
hold his head high. He'll look like me, but not cuter:
I'll have longer lashes and bigger bluer eyes.
He'll have seen a loved one die, so he'll understand loss
but will have worked through his grieving by the time we meet.
Yes, he'll be a prince. He'll think of me only and give me twins
as calm and easy to take care of as no-iron sheets (Duhamel).
(I read somewhere if I long in specifics, I'll be more likely
to get my wish.) A boyfriend like Bambi, he'll be the one for me.
He'll have sort of a feminine name
so I won't immediately think of cuss-words and muscles.
Yet he'll battle for my honor, save my life if he has to.
And when he fights, he and his opponent will turn into shadow.
He'll never be offensive. He'll have really good posture,
hold his head high. He'll look like me, but not cuter:
I'll have longer lashes and bigger bluer eyes.
He'll have seen a loved one die, so he'll understand loss
but will have worked through his grieving by the time we meet.
Yes, he'll be a prince. He'll think of me only and give me twins
as calm and easy to take care of as no-iron sheets (Duhamel).
Denise Duhamel’s book, Smile!, has a feministic view. To emphasize this view, she often uses tales as her references. Her poems “Song for All Would-Have-Been Princesses” and “Ten Qualities as a Cosmo Girl I Really Want in My Man” both use fairy tales throughout the poems. She uses fairy tales to make fun of people who want the perfect Prince Charming. It is very satirical and direct. In “Ten Qualities as a Cosmo Girl I Really Want in My Man” the speaker wants her prince to be like Bambi, which is a fictional character who is nice and kind. She wants him to have a feminine name because she does not want to think of scary things and muscles. He also has to be chivalrous, handsome, and understanding.
In another poem, “Song for All Would-Have-Been Princesses” Duhamel uses the story of Princess and the Frog. She uses the story to twist girls’ fantasy. The She-frog tries to flirt with the Prince, thinking she can be the next princess. But the reality is that the Prince kicks her out of the court because she is a commoner who will cost his crown to throne.
She uses conversational tones for both of the poems which make both poems funny yet sarcastic. For “Song for All Would-Have-Been Princesses” Duhamel just talks about what happens to the She-frog as if she is telling a story. For “Ten Qualities as a Cosmo Girl I Really Want in My Man” the speaker is talking about how she feels about her ideal prince should be. Both of the poems just use plain language so the readers can understand easier, yet both of them imply deeper meanings and analyses of feminism.
However, “Song for All Would-Have-Been Princesses” is a third person’s view and “Ten Qualities as a Cosmo Girl I Really Want in My Man” uses “I”. The difference of narrators for two poems gives out different feeling to each poem. The speaker of “Ten Qualities as a Cosmo Girl I Really Want in My Man” is explaining how her ideal prince will be, and she is somewhat innocent and even idiotic to even believe that her perfect prince is out there. “Song for All Would-Have-Been Princesses” is more of a twist of a fairy tale by the author. She makes the frog as a girl to show that the reality is not what she thinks.
If anyone really met a guy like whom she just described, one would be so bored and tired of being happy and perfect all the time. Duhamel makes the poem funny and satirical on purpose for readers to understand better. Although Duhamel used the different styles and storied for both poems, she portrayed the negative aspect of fairy tales well for both poems to express her thoughts about women being weak and passive. Love should come from two people’ caring for each other and coping with struggles together, not from fairy tales and Prince Charming. It’s what makes the relationship last stronger and happier.
