The changeling child—left in a crib
where infant cries were like a glib
plea to parents ears—changed love for fears.

Raised as their own and given things,
but granting in return just stings
of words so cruel they added fuel
to the bond that once was held so tight
but now is drained by this parasite,
it feeds on love and grows as their relationship does decompose.

Older now and dark of mood,
the changeling spawn loses similitude.
With bulging eyes and lengthened claws,
the glamour cast will hide its flaws
from those who'd see his actuality.

Meanwhile, the child who'd been stolen
grew to find he had no control in
the periled life that came to be his hazardous reality.

A servant's lot in elfin home,
he played the part to groom and comb
the fairy princess—a child of the queen,
thin and frail like a string bean.
With commands absurd, she cut with word
the young man’s hope but spurred
his thoughts to find a way to slip his bonds and lords betray.

He wooed her heart with bond and pledge
and deeds designed to drive a wedge
between the queen and her young spawn
before the princess’ thoughts move on.

With distraction and a sleeping spell—
a human witch had taught him well—
he snuck inside the queen's household
and took a knife of iron cold
to cut apart the spells of fae when he made his getaway.

The next task: to learn the path
to escape from fae dogs' wrath.
He bribed the meekest of the fair folk
by executing a practical joke.
With iron dusted on a seat,
the outcome was to be sore beat,
but in his cell, he learned routes well.

When next the queen and child fought
and retreated to their rooms distraught,
the desperate boy convinced the lass
that they should take supplies and pass
from realms of twilight to lands of day'n'night.

They left their home with stealth and glamour,
but the meekest fae did raise a clamor.
The lass mistreated him so he
had filled his heart with jealousy.
As he watched the young pair go, he struck his vengeful blow.

The cry raised did call a hunt
with queen and hounds at the forefront.
With howl and jeer, the host caused fear
as the young pair picked up their pace
and turned towards the goblin marketplace.

They fled through crowds, past stalls and thralls
until they came to the coffee house and falls.
Inside the patrons drank and spoke
while flowing water crashed and broke
in troughs and down a darkened hole
that they'd go through by paying toll.

He thrust the lass at the barkeep
despite the way she cried and weep'd.
"I'm sorry but it's not my place
and I'll not again see your fair face.
My home is in another world."
And with that said he hurled
his body through the waterway
and swam and kicked through frothy spray
till out he came in sunny brook
then laughed and cried until he shook.

His parents were both dead long since
and he could not a care evince
for how the world had changed 
since from his youth he was estranged.

Time passes different in their realm
and industry did overwhelm
the simple world from which he hailed
but now a new lay to him unveiled.