Lady Jane

‘Why do you stand by the window, weeping,

Why do you pull at your hair?

All I can see is the old pepper tree,

And the guards in the courtyard out there.

Is something you see that lies hidden to me

As the wind tosses leaves in the air?

Why do you stand by the window, weeping

Why are you lost in despair?’

 

‘I can see shadows from yesterday, creeping,

Shadows foretelling our doom,

Lock all the windows and put up the shutters

To keep them away from our room.

The soldiers rode by with a penitent priest

In a halter, they rode in the gloom,

The priest is now hanging, his life is deceased

And I fear they’ll be coming here soon.’

 

‘But what would the soldiers be coming here, seeking,

You have no secrets to hide,

Your father said you were an innocent maiden,

That’s why I made you my bride.’

‘The court was a stew of conspiracy, plots

And the Duke of Northumberland lied,

Lock all the windows and put up the shutters

And let me lie down by your side.’

 

‘What is this terror that you have been weeping,

Edward named you in his will,

Surely they can’t take the throne from your keeping,

Fate could not treat you so ill.’

‘I feared the moment that I took the crown

That the nobles would do what they do,

And now for your wife you will give up your life,

The soldiers are coming for you!’

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[K. D. Kromminga]

As usual it is well written and excellent use of pacing, imagery, and language.
Its a change from the usual scope and epic nature of your work. Leaves me wondering why you cut it down from your usual complete story down to an ending scene. There's a story here that begs to have more then an ending

[TPK Stories]

You have some wonderful ideas for stories. Another good story.

[Enid Blake]

You have to shudder at some of the histories!

[Marie]

Lady Jane was little more than a child when she was executed. This was a disgraceful tme in England.

[quinfinn]

another fine write....i notice a strong similarity between your writings and those of Enid Blake...maybe the two of you should meet and compare notes. it is uncanny, how you two use the same metered and lined format...check it out.

[Enid Blake]

It's being brought up on a weekly dose of 'The owl and the Pussycat' at my grandfather's knee here in the UK - lol