The Jester

We're getting a little closer to the beginning of the story. Hopefully, I'll get a stroke of inspiration soon. Enjoy

The Jester

Among the cheery crowd a’mingling,

A nimble figure with bells a’jingling

And clad in motley, a fool

Spun like thread on a spool.

He whistled and jeered

And at the guests sneered.

Flipped, hid, jumped and bowed,

And, from atop a table, he spoke aloud:

Call me Merry Mort,

Jester Royal of the Court.

T’is my duty to escort

And to amuse the King and Consort

I welcome each and all, dames and gents.

The year’s done, its time – spent.

So the feast enjoy, lords and ladies,

And your cups raise, bid farewell to Hades.

Right is the time, all your sorrows bury.

T’is the night when all make merry,

For Rhyme plays the flute

And Reason plays the lute.

Mulled wine and chilled ale,

To help you down both deer and quail,

Pigeon we have, and mutton too

For the thin and the gluttons in you.

Should you so please,

To subject you, allow me, to a tease.

A small and harmless charade,

Fitting for this gloomy masquerade.

Should you find yourself wearing a crown,

In a cup would your sorrows drown?

Should you find yourself donning a dress,

Would you dance to rule or to impress?

Should you find yourself wielding a sword,

With fire would you play, or be the lord?

Should you find yourself hiding behind a mask,

Would you dawdle or raise up to the task?

Pray tell, can you choose when to fall?

Would you fight it? Risk it? Lose it all?

While you eat and drink to your hearts’ content,

Think about that, ladies and gents.

Alas, depart I must, my time is done,

Have your fill and have your fun.

But be wary of this eerie candle glow,

For we’ll all dine with the shadows.

He disappeared in a cloud of smoke

Which made some cry and some choke.

Yet, save one, none have stayed, in the night’s late,

To ponder about their darkening fate.