Jester

See the clever jester
Speaking truth to power
In this medieval court
Where dark secrets flower
And with numbers to the axe
Rising by the hour
See the jester strut and dance
While the rest must cower

Only in the jester’s words
May the truth be seen
Rarely can bad tidings be
Told to king or queen
In the web of satire
Is the whiplash keen
Here the truth is palatable
Somewhere in between

Should bad tempered, half mad kings
Enjoy an odd satire
You see a deep true belly laugh
Diminish royal ire
Surely then the jester here
Wouldn’t be a liar
If his wit delays his time
To join a heavenly choir

If a truth you need to tell
Will not pleasant be
In a court where fear for life
Dictates your destiny
If your words and actions
Would be danger free
Like the clever jester
Rely on irony.

(c) Helen Valentina 2013, All Rights Reserved

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About Helen

I'm drawn to blogging as a way to share ideas and consider what makes us who we are. Whether it's in our working life or our creativity, expression is a means to connect.
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12 Responses to Jester

  1. tyroper's avatar tyroper says:

    Great visual expression and description of a Jester. Nicely done!

  2. chaosordergnosis's avatar chaosordergnosis says:

    I had a conversation with my brother on this subject last night. “speaking truth to power”. Awesome.

    • Thank you – isn’t it spooky when the creative world mimics themes in real life…I find that quite often and it always stuns me when it happens. 🙂

      • chaosordergnosis's avatar chaosordergnosis says:

        It’s like leverage. The ether starts to materialize a little as you pass through it; reassuring your course. I cherish those.

  3. scribemonger's avatar alarmingman says:

    As clever as the jester!

  4. Mike's avatar Mike says:

    I am always delighted to come across a poem that employs the style of stanzas, rhyme scheme, rhythm and meter. Yours is an inventive perception of the subject and achieved with insight and elegant phraseology in an analytic and authoritative voice. You even go so far as to give the poor man’s career a psychological evaluation. I enjoyed this very much. Well done.

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