D is for Disney: An Abecedarian Poem Inspired by the Disney Princess Movies

Dear readers,

           November 2019 marks the first anniversary of Ralph Breaks the Internet and the premiere of Frozen 2. The former Disney film features a crossover 80 years in the making. In that scene, Ralph’s BFF, Vanellope, meets the Disney Princesses who befriend her when she disagrees that her problems “got solved because a big strong man showed up.” Vanellope then inspires her new friends to don modern outfits and they, in turn, inspire her to seek out her own dream.

           To honour the two events and Mickey Mouse’s birthday, I have composed this abecedarian poem inspired by Disney movies and the newest children’s book A is for Audra: Broadway’s Leading Ladies from A to Z.

-A. Eleazar
P.S. Pardon the Chinese titles; my father bought majority of the videos from a store in Hong Kong. Please also note that I had been resourceful in taking pictures of my collection.

D is for Disney

A is for Ariel,

the little mermaid,

whose love for Eric

has a price unpaid.

Ariel from The Little Mermaid (1989) 🧜‍♀️

It’s also for Aurora,

the Sleeping Beauty,

who woke from a repose

cast by a fairy.

Aurora from Sleeping Beauty (1959) 🛌🏻

B is for Belle,

the book-reading Beauty

who fell for a prince

who wasn’t so Beastly.

Belle from Beauty and the Beast (1991) 🥀

C is for Cinderella,

who was always wishing;

her dream came true

since she kept on believing.

Cinderella from Cinderella (1950) 🥿

D is for Disney,

not for damsels in distress;

big strong men don’t solve

all problems for a princess.

E is for Elsa,

the Snow Queen of Arendelle;

her sister is Anna,

a fist-throwing mademoiselle.

Elsa and Anna from Frozen (2013) ❄

F is for family

and every good friend:

they are the treasures

you have until the very end.

G is for grace

which princesses are known

to have within their hearts

as they have always shown.

H is for heroes

and those hidden Mickeys:

people who rescue;

circles sought with(out) ease.

I is for interest

in a Disney theme song,

which you love so much,

you always sing along.

J is for Jasmine,

the Princess of Agrabah,

and sweetheart of Aladdin

or Prince Ali Ababwa.

Jasmine from Aladdin (1992) 🧞‍♂️

K is for kindness

and also, for knowledge:

one is a golden heart,

while the other is courage.

L is for love,

the tool for spell-breaking,

and the true path to

somebody’s happy ending.

M is for Merida,

the brave red-haired dame;

with each arrow she nocks,

she doesn’t miss her aim.

Merida from Brave (2012) 🏹

It’s also for Moana

of Motunui,

who fearlessly sails

the wide, open sea.

Moana from Moana (2016) 🌊

It’s also for Mulan,

who deafeated Shan Yu,

and is friends with soldiers,

Cri-Kee, and Mushu.

Fa Mulan from Mulan (1998) ⚔

N is for never quitting

in times good and bad.

Loved ones surround you

to make you feel glad.

O is for the Oscars

which Disney has won

or has been nominated

when the movies are done.

P is for Pocahontas,

a child of Mother Earth,

the only home we have

to our death from our birth.

Pocahontas from Pocahontas (1995) 🍃

Q is for quest,

an epic adventure,

a special journey,

and a test of character.

R is for Rapunzel,

Corona’s magic flower,

whose life began by exiting

Gothel’s hidden tower.

Rapunzel from Tangled (2010) 💇🏼‍♀️

S is for Snow White,

“The fairest of them all;

the friend of seven dwarfs,”

said the mirror on the wall.

Snow White from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) 🍎

T is for Tiana,

the left-handed frog princess

and the hardworking woman

who runs Tiana’s Palace.

Tiana from The Princess and the Frog (2009) 🐸

U is for unity,

the maker of a team.

Friends work together

to stop an evil scheme.

V is for the villains who

the good guys did defeat.

It’s also for Vanellope,

a princess racer sweet.

Vanellope von Schweetz from Wreck-It Ralph (2012) and Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) 🏎

W is for Walt,

the great animator;

the films he produced

are so full of wonder.

X is for the xylophone,

a common instrument

on which fans cover tracks

with notes so expectant.

Y is for yourself:

one of many Disney fans;

you show a dedication

that surpasses the spans.

Z is for zeitgeist,

mood of 1937;

Disney remains loved

by every generation.

References:

1. Allman, J. R. (2019). A is for Audra: Broadway’s Leading Ladies from A to Z. New York City, New York: Doubleday Books for Young Readers.
2. Ashman, H. & Musker, J. (Producers), & Clements, R. (Director). (1989). Little Mermaid, The [Motion picture]. Burbank, California: Walt Disney Animation Studios.
3. Clements, R. & Musker, J. (Directors). (1992). Aladdin [Motion picture]. Burbank, California: Walt Disney Animation Studios.
4. Coats, C. (Producer), & Bancroft, T. & Cook, B. (Directors). (1998). Mulan [Motion picture]. Burbank, California: Walt Disney Animation Studios.
5. Conli, R. (Producer), & Greno, N. & Howard, B. (Directors). (2010). Tangled [Motion picture]. Burbank, California: Walt Disney Animation Studios.
6. Del Vecho, P. (Producer), & Buck, C. & Lee, J. (Directors). (2013). Frozen [Motion picture]. Burbank, California: Walt Disney Animation Studios.
7. Del Vecho, P. (Producer), & Clements, R. & Musker, J. (Directors). (2009). Princess and the Frog, The [Motion picture]. Burbank, California: Walt Disney Animation Studios.
8. Disney, W. (Producer), & Cottrell, W. et al (Directors). (1937). Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs [Motion picture]. Los Angeles, California: Walt Disney Company.
9. Disney, W. (Producer), & Geronimi, C. et al (Directors). (1950). Cinderella [Motion picture]. Los Angeles, California: Walt Disney Company.
10. Geronimi, C. (Director). (1959). Sleeping Beauty [Motion picture]. Los Angeles, California: Walt Disney Company.
11. Hahn, D. (Producer), & Trousdale, G. & Wise, K. (Directors). (1991). Beauty and the Beast [Motion picture]. Burbank, California: Walt Disney Animation Studios.
12. Pentecost, J. (Producer), & Gabriel, M. & Goldberg, E. (Directors). (1995). Pocahontas [Motion picture]. Burbank, California: Walt Disney Animation Studios.
13. Sarafian, K. (Producer), & Andrews, M. &  Chapman, B. (Directors). (2012). Brave [Motion picture]. Emeryville, California: Pixar Animation Studios.
14. Shurer, O. (Producer), & Clements, R. & Musker, J. (Directors). (2016). Moana [Motion picture]. Burbank, California: Walt Disney Animation Studios.
15. Spencer, C. (Producer), & Johnston, P. & Moore, R. (Directors). (2018). Ralph Breaks the Internet [Motion picture]. Burbank, California: Walt Disney Animation Studios.
16. Spencer, C. (Producer), & Moore, R. (Director). (2012). Wreck-It Ralph [Motion picture]. Burbank, California: Walt Disney Animation Studios.