Jester

The jester has many faces
as was his duty to
make light of the insanity;
make everyone a fool.

He belongs to no kingdom
in a world that has four.
Suits made of keys
And he holds the door.

Their world is then shuffled
Once, twice, and over
The kingdoms are scattered
In peculiar order

As chance had permitted,
He held court as a King
A scarlet heart was his emblem
And so was the Queen's.

“A wager perhaps?”
Said the jester to the Queen;
whose face was entrancing,
but nary a smile to be seen.

“I will win any hand
I will be what you need
I will fight all your battles
But my wish you must heed”

“And what may that be?”
Said the Queen to the jester.
A beauty this great
Is no fool to a wager.

“Forget your crimson king!”
His voice, sharp but lull
“He’s with three other maidens
In a house almost full.”

“Give me your hand
And I’ll call in a rush
Slaves, jacks and emblems
Royals in flush!”

“How tempting, dear jester
I’ve a choice to agree
You may win this wager
But you’ll never have me

For when the deck turns again
I may weep, but you’ll see
He’ll still be my king
And a fool you’ll always be

You can pretend endlessly
But belong never more
You can’t fit in my kingdom
Nor in our world with just four.”

The world is then shuffled
The tears far from over
Their kingdoms are scattered
Again in no order

The jester was foolish
But he wasn’t insane
For after that wager
He no longer played the game.

The jester has many faces
But he’s wise enough to
make everyone believe
that he’s still a fool.