that wheel was spinning
like the witches knew that it would
and everything your parents tried to do to protect you
none of it did you any good

you felt the spin of the wheel
you fell hard to the floor
and nothing and no one
could make you move anymore

come on, come on—open your eyes
come on, come on—see through this disguise
that lies upon this land that the world forgot
it’s not sleep if you never wake up
it’s not sleep if you never wake up

the world grew up around you
you shrank back in your skin
the sun never touched you
you never felt the wind

your mother kissed you and held your hand
your sister stood guard at the gate
your father sat at the foot of your bed
and said, “awake. awake.”

come on, come on—open your eyes
come on, come on—see through this disguise
that lies upon this land that the world forgot
it’s not sleep if you never wake up
it’s not sleep if you never wake up

but for you, there will be no kisses
from knights on white horses, or young and handsome princes
this fairytale of ours, this fairytale is fractured
and you and i will never know a ‘happily ever after’

your father carved your name in his breast
your mother cried as she kissed your face
your sister watched the snow falling through the window
and wondered how the thieves had escaped

come on, come on—open your eyes
come on, come on—see through this disguise
that lies upon this land that the world forgot
it’s not sleep if you never wake up
it’s not sleep if you never wake up