The Dancer

                         All my possessions for a moment of time.
                                                                               Elizabeth I

Why couldn’t they see?
I danced as much for England as for me.
Any husband of mine would have expected to rule us both.

I learned the marital dance from Henry.
First he danced with the Church, then for the devil.
Six different partners, five left his dance early.

Others heard what they wished, believed what they would.
That wasn’t my fault.  Surely they must have realized
Every lady flirts with gentlemen at a ball.

I tried not to step on toes as the orchestra played on
But it’s so hard to quickly change from waltz to quadrille,
To dance to the newest tune, called by those around me.

When I was young, it was fresh, exciting, exhilarating.
What girl doesn’t love young men dancing attendance?
I thought the ball would never end.  How could I know

How tiring all the intricacies would become?
No mother taught me how hard it is to keep men
Fascinated while keeping them at arm’s length.

The dance is ending now.  I’ve withdrawn to rest.
They will never forget the merry chase I led them on.
History will call my dance the Elizabethan Age.