by Sarah Parrish

Created on: April 07, 2009   Last Updated: April 28, 2009

"My lords and my ladies
I am but a beggar
With my hat in my hand.

"I beg of you all
An alms or a supper
I ask for nothing too grand."

But the lords and the ladies
Looked on in disdain
And pretended not to hear.

"My lords and my ladies
I am but a priest
Coming to save all our souls.

"I believe in something greater
Than this material world
Let me read to you some of my scrolls."

But the lords and the ladies
Looked on in disdain
And pretended not to hear.

"My lords and my ladies
I am but a jester
I come from a faraway land.

"I come with a joke
And a story or two
I'll even pray on demand."

The lords and the ladies
Turned their heads at his words
Ready to be entertained

Even after a comic story or two
And a joke at his own expense,
Their attention was not sustained.

Before the night grew too old
He ended the night as he promised he would
And hung his head as he spoke.

He turned to the beggar
And begged in return
"I am just a jester.
I have yet to learn.

"Be merciful to me
When I am far too dense
To give gifts selflessly
I have no selfless sense.

He spotted the priest
Sulking behind
In silence alone
And he turned in kind.

"Be merciful to me
For I know not what I do
When I have no time
To listen to you."

The lords and the ladies
In silence departed
After the end of the night

Each to his or her room they sat thinking
About the beggar, the priest, and the jester.
After the jester had his say.

The greatest trick the jester played
Was in convincing a room of lords and ladies
That he was more foolish than they.

Learn more about this author, Sarah Parrish.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.