Tears Over Curses (or Beauty and the Beast)

That night I cried, yes
cried with salty, liquid
drops on my cheeks
and the name of a beast
on my tongue.

I cried, even though
the stars danced all around us,
even though fireflies burned
like torches in the night
a soft glow
in this sorrowful castle.

Petals from a withered rose
floated away, carried by an
indifferent wind
remnants of an unbroken curse
and my tears
evidence of tongues that remain too still.