"An Honor at the Royal Court"

All stood upon the cobalt tiles
Outside the Throne Room door
And waited for the Yeoman's call
That Court was held once more.

And at his call, the Knights and Lords
And Ladies forward walked
To enter that high oaken door
As genteely they talked.

Among these fine and noble folk
A humble poet stood ...
She knew not if her summons came
For ill she'd done, or good.

But summoned she had been, it's true --
Her Majesty's command --
And so the nervous poet did
Within the Throne Room stand.

The room was all of ancient oak,
Stained glass, and polished stone ...
And like a crystal in its midst:
The glittering tall Ice Throne.

She entered then with graceful step:
Her Majesty Our Queen ...
And all did kneel before Her
On the marble's polished sheen.

She sat upon her shining Throne
And gazed with gentle eyes
Upon Her subjects kneeling there
And kindly bid them rise.

His Lordship the High Chamberlain
Conducted then the Court,
Allowing for petitions and
Great matters of import.

When this was done, Her Majesty
A poem did demand,
And asked the Royal Poet if
He would in judgment stand.

Then turned Our Queen toward the maid
Who knelt before the Throne
And bade her speak for all the Court
A ballad of her own.

The Royal Poet, time-honored
Sir Bragi leant his ear ...
And leaned upon his sturdy staff
The poetess to hear.

The verse the maid did speak was writ
In honor of the Queen,
About the magic evening when
Her beauty'd first been seen.

And when the verse was done, the skilled
Critiquing Bragi stood
To give his learned analysis,
And kindly deemed it good.

Her Gen'rous Majesty then spoke
About the maiden's guild:
An Outer Bailey group which sought
To courtly manners build.

Her Majesty Our Gracious Queen
Did then make this decree:
The young bard must teach others
How to treat Her Majesty.

And then Her Majesty did smile
A smile so sweet, serene ...
And looked She kindly on the bard
Who'd e'er Her servant been.

And with this lovely smile, Our Queen
Did honor then bestow:
Within the Inner Bailey the
Young bard could come and go.

The poetess then swore to serve
With every word and deed
Her Majesty Our Beauteous Queen
Who does this castle lead.

The Royal Court was then dismissed ...
The gentles did depart,
Except the poetess, held there
By joy within her heart.

Reveared and kind Sir Bragi then
Did come to her and say,
'My dear, you'll write a verse for me
About this honored day. ...

But now let us retire where
It's warm, and bring some ale.
Come sit you by my knee, and I
Will tell a rousing tale.'

And so they did, and so he did,
And so the maid did, too ...
And so it came to pass that I
Now tell this tale to you.

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