The Friendly Face in the Crowd

The crowds gathered below her

To witness her untimely fall

As the crowds gathered previously

To bear the witness to it all

Long enchanting summers

Several years before

They stood for admiration

For her music, poetry and show

They stood to speak of her beauty

Of her poise, grace and charm

Of her wit and graceful turn of neck

A frond of delicate palm

They sang praises when she read

And read compliments when she sang

For no other queen nor princess

Is of such grace in all the land

When she danced they watched her

With hungry eyes and hearts

Desirable woman and supple curves

Oh how she played her part

They all wanted her attention

And vied forever for her smiles

Penning words for her perfect brow

And praising her trends and style

And ere she stands before them

Those people who she knew

But yet, all is an illusion

She knew as the sword withdrew

These people who had proclaimed love

Were now just hypocrites

Watching her yes, but wanting her not

No praise not word for her wit

The poetry they sung were over

The wells of song, now dry

For they looked upon her from below

Silhouetted against the summer sky

Her turn of neck still graceful

Her face yet the beautiful cream

No word nor song reached her

Nothing to say nor redeem

She slowly fell to her knees

Still the princess, the queen

Still the gracious, the wonderful woman

The land had ever seen

She held her dignity and her head high

Her eyes simply scanned the crowd

She held her charm she showed no fear

As the noise and din grew loud

She found his face staring at her

Strong as it always was

She needed a smile not sympathy

For this act was of not just cause

Clairvoyance slowly played his part

He looked at her and smiled

His queen, this woman, it's all he saw

Her answering gaze was mild

Her eyes were open her gaze still held

The noise of the crowd then grew

These people who had said loved her

Were vile as a scavenging shrew

Her eyes found his and there it stayed

When the sword gleamed against the sky

He was her friendly face in the crowd

As she with her full grace, died.

This poem was inspired by the rise and 

the fall of the English queen Ann Boleyn,

second wife of King Henry VIII