Catharine Howard 1525 –1542Before I arrived at court
I had to darn my dresses.
Now the King desires
To posses me, I am given
The very best velvet to cover
My plump limbs.
Rubies, sapphires to wind
Around my neck,
And pearls to hang from my
Pretty white ear lobes.
The King whispers how
He is hard for me.
His breath smells of rotten meat,
His vast bulk repulses me.
He places a golden
Circlet on my auburn hair,
I allow him to grope my breasts.
A diamond ring; his hands
Bruise my thighs.
My family control this.
Grasping power as I satisfy
The royal bull.
A wisp of a Queen.
Pulled like sheer cloth,
Tenuously keeping all
Contented.
How I long for youth;
Smooth skinned young
Men to caress and love
Me until I become liquid.
So all I can see is light
And I forget the King.
A very interesting poem! Until my children discovered the CBBC programme 'horrible histories', I don't think I'd ever though about what life must really have been like for figures we learn about from the past. I'm still wincing at Henry's bad breath - yucky! Not to mention being a young woman whose sole purpose is to advance her family's standing. How much we modern woman take for granted. (Although I would have been a smelly peasant, for sure!)
ReplyDeleteMy daughter loves horible histories as well! I like writing poems about historical women, giving them a voice. I am glad you liked it.
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