The Jester

Once, a long time ago
I played the fool.
A court jester dawned
in a silly hat and silly shoes.
I danced and I danced  
to make the queen happy,
to see her smile once again.
 
For a while, my dance brought
that smile to her face,
but slowly, it began to fade.
Try as I might, I could not bring
it back to her flawless face.
 
I worked day and night to entertain
and enlighten.  
I jumped higher, sang louder,
danced faster.
But, it was never enough,
my queen was still so very unhappy.
 
After she tired of me, I was
banished to the dungeons.
While sitting on the cold floor,
alone, in the dark
I practiced and practiced.
I knew if I was just good enough,
if I was just the best, perfect
in every way, she would love
me once more.
And my life would be spared.
 
Begging the guards to let me  
see my queen once more,  
I was released
for one last performance.
My heart pounded for there were
high stakes.
Failure would mean
death by beheading.
 
Taking my place in front of her throne,
I began to glide across the floor.
Pausing, only for a moment to  
look at the face of my fate;
my heart sank.
A scowl graced the lips of the queen.
My fate was sealed.
 
Falling to the floor in shame,
the guards lifted me
to carry me away to my death.
I looked once more at the queen,
pleading with my eyes that she  
would remember what we had one been.
Once, she had loved me.
My eyes fell, I knew I had failed.
The last thing my eyes gazed up
was the steely stare
of my once, true love.