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Anne Boleyn - The Second Victim

Gossip of a burning beauty
Rose to lips at court
Anne Boleyn, with vivacity
Of charm she was never short.

Henry's eyes a' twinkle
As Catherine raised a brow
Watching his lust rekindle
"Who might you be now?"

"Anne Boleyn, my lord
Maid of honour to Mary
To stay in France I could not afford
Though her beauty compares to a fairy."

An heir for England he yearned
But none came from his wife
Anne is the one, they confirmed
Such feelings were new in his life.

He wooed and he courted
But her heart was taken, "Don't bother."
So to last he resorted
"You're lover does love another."

So she gave her hand to his
And became his second queen
Catherine of Aragon he did not miss
For surely, this was but a dream!

Henry gave her love
And pleaded for a boy
She was his only dove
But Anne was never coy....

She possessed wits of steel
And confidence to match his own
She expressed what she could feel
And Henry was reaping what he had sown.

A child was on its way
"Let us make a toast to my heir,
Never has it been a happier day!"
Henry beamed, with no other care.

Anne delivered, with a teardrop pearl
As Henry smiled for his boy....
She sighed, "My lord, 'tis but a girl,"
And watched his smile destroy.

The tortured king cried in rage
As his emotions began to fade,
And he stashed his love in a cage -
What sin had he ever made?

Anne began to suspect
Henry was no longer loyal
So she decided to inspect
For she no more felt royal.

Henry lusted for Jane Seymour
Anne realised in white-hot fury
What had he done it for?
She thought he had lover her truly.

He was king he had the power
So to death his queen he sent
Condemned in the merciless Tower
For suspected adultery and incest.

She made her way to Tower Green
Hands tied back, in a gown of white
Anne Boleyn, the second victim
Of Henry's mad determination
While her lady in waiting, Jane,
Stood next in line.

The axe rose up
Then slashed back down
And Henry blinked once
As the execution signal banged through town.

© 2004 Leila Nikolas