Play the Fool
Play the Fool
Once a knight now the court jester,
He juggles the pins,
If he loses the rhythm, he will lose his life.
The Queen stares at the fool.
She who knew him as a knight,
Now laughs with the rest.
The fool's face be streaked with tears.
He wishes only to be understood.
To be loved and held.
Many be his friends.
They see only the mask and the juggling act.
What lies beneath the suit they see not.
The clown wonders.
He knows what the people think,
However, not the Queen,
She hides behind her crown.
He knows he is only a fool.
However, wishes he was more.
Conversely, that the Queen would see him as he is.
She cares not to see.
The clown stirs that which she wishes dead.
He cannot offer that which he does not own.
Frightened by what she thinks to be the act.
The jester looks upon the court.
Many knights strut among the noble sort.
Beneath the armor, the knights be no more than he.
The nobles glimmer weakly from his mirror, without their royal robes.
He is the jester yet he knows.
That which blinds the others makes him see.
Conceived in the sinful lust of man,
Born poor as dirt,
Stripped of all that is high and mighty.
Sadly, he smiles at the pompous throng.
Continue forever his act,
Not for himself but for the others,
He knows the truth.
To tell no one be his bitter reward.
The knowledge gains him nothing.
Often does he cry,
Why me,
Should it not be the king or a knight,
One who can use the knowledge.
Fight the noble fight and win the bloody battle.
I play the fool, yet I understand.
He sees the gold of the court.
Many luxuries could it buy.
Greedy eyes of the noble pursue the riches.
Coins they toss him for the laughs he brings.
The gold which was dug from the earth, he throws back to the eager crowd.
They laugh at him all the more.
Such a fool he knows not the value of gold.
Even so, he knows and sees the truth.
As the world must have the worm to survive.
So must the court have one who plays the fool.
Copyright © Hillard Sarver | Year Posted 2016
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