Stepsister Syndrome

By Arshi Mortuza

I’ve made it to the ball – 
And I’m waltzing with the prince
But do I still reek of cinder?

With every move of his body
And every twitch of his nose
I wonder if he smells it too.

I’ve made it to the ball – 
But do they all know I’m a fraud?

Why did I bother coming out tonight?
A princess among mice but
Pauper among royals.

Sometimes I feel like 
I am my own stepsister.
My barrier to the glass slipper.

Even when they say my accomplishments 
are no small feat –
I curse myself for not having 
smaller feet.

Arshi Mortuza is the author of the poetry collection, One Minute Past Midnight. She currently resides in Toronto, Canada.

PLEASE NOTE: ARTICLES CAN ONLY BE REPRODUCED IN OTHER SITES WITH DUE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO BORDERLESS JOURNAL. 

Click here to access the Borderless anthology, Monalisa No Longer Smiles

Click here to access Monalisa No Longer Smiles on Kindle Amazon International