05-06-2019, 12:59 AM
The king's top man's still in some distant country,
maybe charming his rival's wife, the queen of hearts,
and all he's left's a jack, a knave, a page---
would be a beggar if left unemployed,
a lifeless criminal if left unwatched,
a boy if left unreared---
and a whole host of peers, advisors, servants
he remembers by number, not by name.
Oh where is the king's top man? when will he send his next report?
the queen is not as good at playing bedside chess,
the jack's too coarse, the numbers are a scandal.
The king's stare gravens. He raises his sword.
The message was lost, he's sure: the wait will be twice as long
and the poor knight, waiting too, will feel as forlorn,
he's sure. And yet he raises his sword.
maybe charming his rival's wife, the queen of hearts,
and all he's left's a jack, a knave, a page---
would be a beggar if left unemployed,
a lifeless criminal if left unwatched,
a boy if left unreared---
and a whole host of peers, advisors, servants
he remembers by number, not by name.
Oh where is the king's top man? when will he send his next report?
the queen is not as good at playing bedside chess,
the jack's too coarse, the numbers are a scandal.
The king's stare gravens. He raises his sword.
The message was lost, he's sure: the wait will be twice as long
and the poor knight, waiting too, will feel as forlorn,
he's sure. And yet he raises his sword.