The other Boleyn girl

There were once two sisters, who danced and played in the fields,

Howard was their birth and the name Boleyn ensured that their fates were sealed.

As per convention, their uncle too believed,

That since women were formless, they shall merely follow the orders they received.

The king, a righteous man, who must have a son,

Was disappointed with his wife and thence the game begun.

He seemed to favour Mary, the milk and honey sibling,

Her husband put aside, her future left dwindling.

Her virtues included gentleness and compliance,

And so, her family and the king made a disastrous alliance.

For even in spite of his two children that she bore,

She was but in the end called nothing but a royal whore.

For while she was in bed,

The king took to her sister instead.

The exotic and enchanting Anne,

Decided, that she must do what no one can.

To replace her majesty, the very embodiment of piety,

And she, a common born, to enter the status of royalty.

And as her evil came to rise,

The fair and simple Mary was put aside.

She had passively played her part in the ambitious family’s design,

Now her sister was to wed the king and she was to be confined.

So great was the spell of Anne's grace and charm,

That the king of England acted for his own harm.

He set aside his lawful wife who had for 27 years served him,

Defamed her, belittled her but he was yet to commit his greatest sin-

He broke away from the holy church when they condemned his act,

Lost the favour of his nobles and clergy, completely blind to the obvious facts.

Alas over ambition and unfair means led,

To her being tried and beheaded for treason and incest.

And as for Mary, she gathered her children and niece,

So in the end it was only the other Boleyn girl who managed to live in peace.

-by

Tushita gupta