Mark Stevick —

Ms-tap.jpg
 

The Tapestry Courtiers Address the Casual Visitor


Commanded cap-a-pe by Medici
we muster here to play for Catherine
the feats of some Greek girl in frippery
you wouldn’t go to costume parties in.

Truth is our points are papier-mache. 
They stuck us in these threads to tout Maria
an epic widow queen. For zero pay. 
Even back then this seemed a dumb idea.

O, canst thou find in Bayeux, hath Turin
a fabric more express in royalty? 

Please. We weren’t even seen by Catherine
and only got a smirk from Queen Marie.    

How green they are, and liable to be spoofed, 
who let their fealty be warp and woofed.


Mark Stevick