The king laughed at the clown,  
His painted smile a twisted crown,  
With jests that danced upon the air,  
A jingle here, a step laid bare.  

In the court where silence reigned,  
The fool played on, unbound, unchained,  
His motley guise a cloak of light,  
Yet shadows lingered, deep as night.  

The courtiers rolled in gilded glee,  
While wisdom whispered, “Can’t you see?  
Behind the mask, the truth will creep,  
In laughter’s echo, darkness weeps.”  

The king, oblivious, drank from pride,  
Delighted in the foolish ride,  
Each jest a dagger, sharp and true,  
While the clown wore sorrow as he grew.  

“Come, dance for me,” the monarch cheered,  
For none could see what he had feared—  
A kingdom built on hollow cheer,  
Where laughter rang but felt austere.  

But as the jester jested on,  
A fire stirred from deep within—  
With every quip, a spark was fanned,  
A voice of change began to stand.  

He threw aside his painted guise,  
A storm awakened in his eyes,  
"Your laughter masks a bitter truth,  
Your reign is built on stolen youth!"  

And with a flourish, he raised his hand,  
To silence the court, to make a stand.  
"Listen close! The time has come,  
To break the chains, to beat the drum!"  

The crowd grew still, a breath held tight,  
The jester stood, igniting light,  
"Together we can shake these halls,  
Tear down the silken, gilded walls!"  

Then whispers turned to roars of might,  
As peasants surged into the night,  
To join the fool, to claim their fate,  
In laughter’s name, they sought escape.  

The king now trembled, laughter gone,  
His fragile power stood upon  
The brink of change, a revolution,  
Spurred forth by jest and dissolution.  

For in the heart of every fool,  
Lies strength and truth that can’t be ruled.  
So let the laughter pierce the skies,  
A rallying cry that never dies.  

The king laughed no more, the throne now bare,  
As voices rose in the crisp night air:  
“Together we reclaim our own,  
In jest and joy, our strength has grown!”  

And as the dawn began to rise,  
A kingdom born from laughter’s ties,  
With every heart, a battle won,  
In the clown’s bold stand, the change begun.

E. Phoenix 2025