fool

The amateur juggler

walks about the uproarious feast

trying to maintain perfection

so none will notice his fear.

Around and around they go

an astounding display

of agility, beauty and precision.

Oh, what a talent:

to juggle effectively

and present confidence.

Woe to the juggler

as his stern concentration

on performative perfection

pulls his attention away

from his human body.

knees buckle

breath chokes

terror flashes

display falls

The juggler weeps

over his failure.

A court dwarf,

the only to notice

toddles to the juggler

to inquire of his tears.

“What is wrong?”

“I dropped it!”

“Dropped what?”

“Everything!”

“But I see nothing…”

The juggler ceased to weep

looked about the floor

and realized with a gasp:

he was right.

“Oh! You must be the jester! You fooled me!”

“Yes. I am the fool of fools.”