A Time for Reflection - with audio

audio link

When I arrived at court,
I expected, no feared,
The king and queen to be at death's door
However, to my surprise,
I found them both very much alive
The king was gruff,
Full of frowns and forgetfulness
He never spoke unless spoken to
The queen often spoke her mind
In measured words
Loving, fearful, angry and kind
Gentle was the royal egress,
As the handmaids came and went
The king and queen slept and read,
Turning in each page
Waking thoughts and dreams
They came no more to court,
But held fast with guests
In the inner chambers
At court were royalty,
Courtiers and knaves
I was to dine with princes and
Join in much merry making
Yet sadness was upon the kingdom,
The estates lay unkempt
The fields grew fallow
The pale of broken hearts
Veiled many a face,
But love and youth prevailed
With chirping birds in the treetops
To create a sometime betterment
In the dreams at rest.