Held in Contempt of (The King's) Kangaroo Court

I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion. - Thoreau

kneeling in wayward meditation along with wandering prayer

thinking i'm the king's esteemed vizier and trusted soothsayer

no longer able to navigate the cold, winding stairs of the watchtower

especially at a dark, ungodly, candleless hour

i keep vigil as deep feelings and emotions fester

turns out i'm nothing more than an unsummoned, court jester

i dance alone in motley threads

whilst out in the courtyard they're taking heads

beyond moats and behind thick stone walls, kings toss and turn 'neath robed, tarnished, ill-weaved covers as betrayal embeds

turns out that there are more uses than i ever imagined for royal bedspreads

Author's Note

"My life has been the poem I would have writ, but I could not both live and utter it." - Thoreau