Sad King Poem by Emmanuel George Cefai

Before the sad King
Sang the minstrel.

In the vast hall
They were alone

The one to sadness
As a King of desires
Unbounded.

The other as the servant
Smiled
And sang of made-up joy
Though as sad as his master
Was his heart.

For an hour
They stayed so.

Then
Of a sudden
Like to a light stick fire
arose
enraged the King
Bade him go.

And
On the face of the minstrel
There was writ the stark
Question: ‘Why?
Be this the reward of
My patient suffering? ’