I WAS ONCE A PRINCESS

by Jean James

I was once a princess, the daughter of a king.

He taught me how to laugh, and he taught me how to sing.

He was just a little fellow, barely five foot five in all,

He kissed me when I cried, and he held me lest I fall.

 

I was once a princess, the daughter of a king.

He told me I must value life and everything it brings.

He wasn’t very famous, known only to a few,

And he always showed kindness to everyone he knew.

 

I was once a princess, the daughter of a king.

He taught me not to criticize - not for anything.

Said people might have problems that we could never know,

And we should just accept them wherever we may go.

 

I was once a princess, the daughter of a king.

He took me to the circus; he pushed me on a swing.

He told me I was wonderful, a fairy princess true,

But said I must be humble in everything I do.

 

I was once a princess, the daughter of a king.

By his own example, he gave me everything.

Often I have failed him, though he said to do my best,

And now the day is here where he is laid to rest.

 

He was just a common soldier, a father and a king.

And to this man of honour I still wish to cling,

I thank him for his love and faith, his guidance and his trust.

And, though I’ll miss him dearly, part with him I must.

 

Somewhere in this world, there’ll be a princess with no king.

And I know he has to go to her to fix up everything.

Behind the scenes, unknown to all, he’ll guard her as an angel,

And I know he has a job to do, as he is so very able.

 

So, just as he has taught me, I will share with her my king,

And I know he’d never leave me – not for anything.

Just an ordinary father, a husband and a friend,

He’ll never really leave us. His work will never end.

 

He’ll still be guarding over us, as is a soldier’s way,

He’ll be doing volunteering and working every day.

He’ll be teaching little children that peace must be our quest;

Teaching little children that peacetime is the best.

 

He’ll teach them, by example, some values to stop war,

So please salute my father as he passes through the door.

And when I pass that way myself, I hope that when we meet,

I can look him in the eye, and not down at my feet.

 

Like every other princess and the children of a king,

Our fathers were just common men who gave us everything