The Fool Poem by William McGehee

A fool did stand one time before a king,
Garbed in a flowing cape and mask of red.
The little bells atop his cap did ring
In fear of what the monarch had just said-
“ Fool, I command you, put on my face a smile
I’ve seen too much of war and grief and strife.
Now dance entertain us for a while.
Perform well now or I will end your life”.

But jesters are a lightning witted sort
And when he saw the king’s unsheathéd sword
He danced and sang his way across the court
The snatched it up and ran it through his lord.
Moral: Though his seat be the lowest stool
He breathes as kings, never threaten a fool.