The Jester

A little poem that speaks of broader societal issues and the answer to resolve them.

The Jester 

By

Carlos Lorenzo Estrada 

"The worst sin toward our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them: that's the essence of inhumanity." - George Bernard Shaw

God appeared in fool's attire 

Preformed a play of harsh satire

Before the King and crowd 

A huddled mass to disavow 

The jester played to court

Mime and gesture in contort 

He danced in silence before the realm

In painted face of ashen elm

In pantomime and grace sublime

He moved through world to capture time

A fool whose painted with a frown 

In pantaloons of ghostly clown

What sadness plucked to heart's travail 

A joker's angst would soon prevail 

What wickedness did he see

Beyond the veil of company

The Queen in guilty face

Looked away in sharp disgrace

For in the dance she saw

The wretchedness of us all

In angered rage gave King command 

His soldiers smite this hapless man

And there before the throng

God was slain at end of song

What lessons are we to learn

When one is silenced and truth is spurned 

Speak and oppose inequity 

For silence is concession to iniquity.

Author's Note

A quick little parable of poetry written as my muse was sleeping and talking in her sleep. Sometimes she holds out on me with some of the good profound art. It's like trying to lay a trap for a real sneaky smart mouse. Only to find out later I was the mouse all along and not a smart one either. Can't sneak anything passed a woman. They truly are smarter than men. Oh, she's waking up gotta go. Feel free to leave thoughts or comments. Thank you all.

Reviews

[Soren]

From Socrates onward people have not tolerated the truth. It has been shown that it only takes one to stand up against authority and the crowd to stem the flow. Inaction is tantamount to agreeing and perpetrating the act itself. Powerful write Carlos.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on this piece. I believe so wholeheartedly on its powerful message because history has proven it to be true. To stay silent against the face of evil is to be complicit to its deed. The heart that is brave to speak against the wrong reflects our better humanity and love for all. We are in need of this more during these difficult of times. It is easy to sit still never speaking a word but more difficult to stand for something greater than ourselves. CLE

[M. J. Smith]

"Concession to iniquity..." Politicians beware! A truer words was never written for our times. Ask any drifter! Thanks for having the courage to write. And thanks for posting. Well spoken, I say, well spoken!

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you my friend for such a kind comment on this piece. I truly appreciate it. These words were difficult to write because I truly feel as human beings we are better than this. And yet we fall prey to indifference and allow it to morally corrupt our humanity. To remain silent toward injustice is concession and culpability toward its behavior. And what is lost in that singular choice is our humanity. Thank you again my friend.

[shadrach hah]

Hi Carlos, The Jester was slain because he spoke out against inequality. Those who have, always have the power but we should not be silent about their wrongs. I loved the content and the creative way in which you put your message across. I have to agree with you, Carlos, women are smarter than men. Their intuition gives them the upper hand. Another outstanding work. Have a wonderful evening....Mike.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Mike for sharing your thoughts on this poem. This work has a few themes within it but I feel its most important message is the question of empathy. Here in the States there is a segment of a type of Christian that believes in freedom and the right to bear arms. Instead of holding true to the values and tenants of their faith in regard to brotherhood. They would rather shoot a man to death out in the streets for any perceived slight or wrong against them. They remain silent in the face of injustice and in their silence are culpable in their inaction. If God appeared before them in a Jester costume they would martyr him. For it is easy in one to claim being virtuous but difficult to live up to those greater values in life. Thank you for your kind words Mike. I appreciate it.

[shadrach hah]

Hi Carlos, I understand totally what you say. I did leave my chapel because I saw so many people who acted wrong against their fellows all week and then acted holier than thou on a Sunday, for one hour, then back to normal play. Too many people are willing to stab you in the back. They are not Christian in my eyes. I don't know what cannon law these people follow but it isn't mine. I will always follow God's law. I think, by the law many people should pay for their wrongs but they don't. I hope, in the end, I can call myself a Christian. Have a wonderful Friday....Mike.

[Abon Hassan]

It's quite an interesting thing, for the joker to tell the truth and while in its sarcasm, make fun of the queen. Capitalism doesn't punish people for critics it rewards them, what just shows that in evolution men became more tolerant and strong, faulted by his own interior silence, and his own humorous thoughts upon his disgrace. I feel this joker's pain, as he is dragged into a puninshment he brought upon himself, slayed by the soldiers, as one last joke. He's not funny, as every man who is too compassionate, showing his ideality among others, and suffering from their misery. I believe in the joke. I myself think it's impossible to change the world, and people or nature, so I rather laugh than pity the living, because the boat keeps moving in these waves of catastrophe, and no one, never, ever, moves a finger.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

And yet I remain the eternal optimist for I believe a single voice can be that change. Gandhi, MLK Jr., and others have proven throughout history that aspirational possibility. But it is not an easy road to achieve such change and one must be willing to sacrifice everything for it. Even their life. Heroes are not silent, they are spoken. It is up to the individual on how they choose to use their voice, as it is the same for the artist. There are endless aphorisms that speak to these aspirations but only one's truth and defiance for change actually matter and make a difference. The last two lines of this poem give voice to remaining silent and its cost. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this poem I truly appreciate it.

[Abon Hassan]

Curious. I had a conversation with a friend and mentioned your poem, and the Jester's dilemma. I believe in change, but the topic of the conversation was immutable things, things that cannot change, or are not in our power to change. I came to a conclusion that life devours us into thinking we can be heroes, that we can change the day. Yes, we can, though for that we have to transform ourselves first, and this challenge is far greater than any heroic act, for the world and our life depends on maturation, like the wine that becomes better with time. I truly loved your poem, gave me an insight. If you wanna see change, read heart of darkness. It's a decend into madness and imorality. Till the next poem! See ya!

[andrew mitchell]

Nicely written the rhymes ring out loud on reading.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Andrew for the nice comment I really appreciate it.

[andrew mitchell]

The jester is very clever so you don’t want to be on his wrong side.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

I totally agree. Don't let his silly costume fool you. Haha.

[Lydia Shutter]

Good rhyming in this one, Carlos. The jester is probably smarter than the King or the Queen, but he will never be given the opportunity to prove it. Such is life in our society....a caste system of sorts. The parable is strong and the poem gives us a message. Oh, and of course women are smarter than men! :) Lydi**

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Yes I agree wholeheartedly women truly are smarter than men and also much more intuitive as well. That was one of a few messages I managed to sneak into this poem. I had so much fun writing this poem because it is multi layered. And I'm so glad you enjoyed this piece Lydi. Thank you for your thoughts on this poem.

[Ama]

It feels like a fancy poem to read but truly has a dig deep feelings situation happening in my mind. some I understand ,some I don't know what to call them. Either way it is enjoyable to read with the way you play the words.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Ama for your thoughts on this poem. This one I have to admit has several messages to it but the main one is the most important. That we should never remain silent in times of injustice. We must speak out and make our thoughts be heard because to stay silent is to normalize and make bad behavior acceptable. To condone hate in our silence toward it. Thank you again for your thoughts I truly appreciate it.

[Ama]

Indeed. The more people stay silent, the more they will be taken for granted. that's why voice is important. You are very welcome

[duff]

I always felt like the jester had the upper hand and was laughing at the crowd. The inevitable dancing. I really like it.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you kindly Duff. I agree with you. The jester is not as foolish as many may want to believe.

[lightsong]

I was waiting to see how You will end this because we all know what Jester's meaning in history, the way You ended your poem very strong, very powerful, and how it's connected to your first verse. we human's don't seem to learn how to accept each others, our differences that make harmony on this world, reading this I can't but to think again of this sentence "too kindness leads to rejection" this sentence is there in your words, accept your injustice and You are opening the door for it, there is more to come. and You and your amusing muse, what a beautiful bond You two have :> and yes we are smarter than men 😝

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

I agree totally with your statement. I feel for centuries we men have fooled ourselves into believing we rule the world. But everyone knows the truth; it really is women. We men only screw it up. Thank you for your spot on comment about this poem. This work and its message was truly a labor of love.