The Fool Poem by Phillip Ball

This is a story about a fool,
Who stood by the king and helped him rule.
The fool was wise, the fool was sharp,
The king owed his mind, the princess his heart.
A fool and a princess now this was forbidden.
But not the reason why the fool kept his feelings hidden.
So close to the king, the fool was not afraid of any laws.
But if he got close to the princess would she see his flaws
The fool could only see the princess and her perfection
The fool could only see the flaws in the man in his reflection
“With all my flaws” the fool thought, “Surely I would be rejected”
“I cannot confess my Love, not till all has been perfected”
He hid in his camber, writing each blemish on a list
Only to finish and exclaim “By God, what if there’s something I missed.”
So, he traveled all over the Kingdom, to every city, to every town.
Asking strangers and friends about his flaws, then jotting them down.
Now the fools quest took well over a year
And when he returned he had to face his greatest fear.
For while he was gone the princess become betrothed to a knight
In his loss the Fool gathered all his might
“My fair Princess” he pleaded, “Tell me where my greatest flaw lies”
“My dear fool” she smiled “Why, you where always perfect in my eyes”