Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Song for All the Would-Have-Been Princesses" by Denise Duhamel is a compelling poem that subverts traditional fairy tale narratives to explore themes of gender roles, desire, and societal expectations. Through the symbol of the frog—a creature often associated with transformation in folklore—Duhamel offers a critique of how female desire is viewed and the limitations placed on women’s aspirations in a patriarchal society.

The poem begins with the familiar image of a bullfrog, which traditionally calls out for a mate at night, invoking the fairy tale trope where a kiss from a princess can transform a frog into a prince. This setup immediately draws the reader into a world where magical transformations are expected and longed for. However, Duhamel quickly shifts focus to question these narratives by introducing the concept of a "cowfrog," which serves as a stand-in for female characters who are conspicuously absent from transformative, fairy-tale endings.

Duhamel cleverly plays with the biological realities of frogs—highlighting that, unlike the fantastical stories, female frogs do not have mammary glands or the ability to nurture their young in the same way mammals do, and their reproductive process is external. This detail underscores the biological and, by extension, metaphorical distance between the realities of female existence and the magical transformations offered to male characters in stories.

The poem then imagines a scenario where a female frog attempts to engage a prince, hoping perhaps for a romantic or transformative encounter. Instead of being greeted with curiosity or kindness, she is rebuffed and treated with disdain. The prince, concerned with maintaining his status and appearance, rejects the frog, underscoring how societal expectations and class distinctions dictate interactions and potential for mobility or transformation.

The reference to St. Brigid, who is said to have prayed to become unattractive to avoid marriage and maintain her independence, adds a layer of complexity to the poem. This historical echo suggests that for women, desirability and visibility can be liabilities, leading to suppression of their own desires for the sake of safety or acceptance.

The closing lines of the poem, "As though for a cowfrog, a would-be princess, / desire itself is shameful," serve as a powerful critique of how female ambition and desire are often stigmatized and undervalued. The would-have-been princesses of the poem’s title are those women whose potential and desires are never realized or acknowledged because of the constraints imposed by societal norms.

Overall, Duhamel’s "Song for All the Would-Have-Been Princesses" is a thought-provoking reimagining of fairy tale motifs to challenge and critique the traditional narratives that shape our understanding of gender and desire. By centering the experiences of the cowfrog, Duhamel invites readers to reconsider who is worthy of transformation and what forms of change are valued in our culture.

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