The King And The Courtesan Poem by Daniel Brick
The King And The Courtesan
(1)
His slaves have learned to anticipate
his commands. They could see ahead
of his thoughts what he required: a glass
of wine, a cushion, a deed of ownership,
a fan of peacock feathers, a harem woman.
Even before his lips parted, they bowed
and intoned, 'Yes, my lord.' Restless,
silent, he sat on his throne... A holy man,
summoned by his slaves, bowed deeply, and
dared to smile in his august presence.
'My lord, what is it you desire of me? '
The King replied sternly, 'I desire nothing
of you.' The holy man's smile widened.
'My Lord, that is the cause of your sorrow.'
(2)
Her smallest gesture was a dance fragment.
Her voice was like a song from the high hills
of the North. She was no longer a young woman.
In dance performances she deferred to those
more nimble. In harem gatherings she was withdrawn.
During darshan she bowed deeply to the Goddess.
When summoned to his private chamber, she complied
with the King's every wish. He was puzzled by her:
she was not one of his fabled beauties, but he saw
her face in palace pools, her scent lingered longer
than frangipani, and her speech excelled all but
his finest poets. He summoned her again and again,
gradually forgetting the other harem women. He mused,
'How is it she has become a princess in my eyes? '
Wow. What an amazing poem. It takes the readers back in time to an era of monarchies, of royalty. You paint the royal picture with perfection n class. Enjoyed it thoroughly. Its always good to go back to bygone eras n live for a moment in times that are totally different from ours. But this poem is not just a simple picture, it is deep n significant. How kings were like gods n their subordinates were like slaves n kings could have any woman they desired, this poem reveals all.
Your poem refers back to a time of medieval royalty. The king was so powerful that he could have anything of his fancy. The slaves at his command went to the far reaches of the world to bring all that he wished to possess. Still he was not happy at all. He reached a state of satiety and the holy man who visited him rightly assumed that his lack of thrill, or zest or desire was the cause of his ennui But the scene changes as a special woman- a courtesan of the harem comes into his life. Though she is not a fabled beauty, she is the very quintessence of womanhood, her gesture is graceful like a dance movement, her voice like a melody. She satisfies every wish and whim of the king in their private chamber. The king himself wonders why this woman past her prime has become a princess in his eyes. It is not physical beauty that is vital, it is the inner charm of a woman that draws her closer to a man. Value the moral unfolded through this poem that could be enjoyed like a story! A 10
But time has come when he became indifferent, To wine, to poetry, to women. it all to him became too real. too real to compete his dream. the dream of dreams, the dream above all, the dream he couldn't understand. he couldn't find it in her eyes, in her sweet voice, in her nice gestures. And all could lead him to frustration, He couldn't find the reason: WHY? but once he felt a new dimension of the same world. He found: God.
the status of pretty women was very pity when they were selected to work in the palaces all around the world..a fable is written with clarity and right choice of words..Thank you for sharing Daniel Brick..
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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8/3/2025 9:21:30 PM # 1.0.0
A great poem. Top score