The walls shone bright with gold.  A sumptuous feast before her lay.

Servant girls replaced her rags with clothing bright and gay.

As night came on they led her to a bed bedecked with gems.

She fell asleep to dream of kings and royal diadems.

Now while she slept as soon as all the curtains had been drawn,

A youth lay down beside her, but he left before the dawn.

Four weeks she lived in luxury and then she felt a yen

to visit with her mother and her sisters once again.

She told the slave who spoke, in turn, to someone out of sight,

and was quite pleased when he returned to say it was all right.

“Here’s a sack of coins for mother.  Tell no one where you have been.

You must return before three days or we won’t let you in.”

Needless to say her sisters when they saw her dressed like that,

were green with envy.  “Tell us all.  Explain yourself,” they spat.

But she refused to tell them and, when time came to depart

she would not take them with her.  “You’ll be sorry, little tart!” 

A few months later Luciella visited once more.

Again she brought some money.  She looked finer than before.

Again her sisters baited her, and having no success

determined on a different plan to squelch her happiness.

When next she came her sisters pled, “We’re groveling at you feet.

Pray listen to us and you’ll find your life will be complete.

You’re of our blood.  We love you, so we sought to learn the truth.

An ogre told us that you’re sleeping with a splendid youth.