Fortune’s Chains and Modesty’s Crown

Fortune’s Chains and Modesty’s Crown

Is Fortune a harlot, or is she a Queen?
The world has placed a crown unseen—
Heavy with sorrow, weighted with sin,
A burden she carries, though never to win.

They whisper she sells her flesh for gold,
Melted and formed in shackles cold,
Link by link at ankle and wrist,
A prisoner bound, yet they insist.

While Modesty waits for a diamond’s gleam,
To be named as Virtue in a gilded dream.
But who recalls Fortune’s maiden name?
As Poverty, she bore Tears in pain.

She wore her hunger, like a petticoat tight,
A mother unseen in the pale moonlight.
Modesty, ungrateful, turned her face,
Burying her mother in silent disgrace.

She stole the crown, yet left the chains,
A legacy lost in unspoken pains.
Culture cares not for Poverty’s cries,
Nor Modesty’s birth, nor Fortune’s sighs.

They praise the bride when wedded bright,
But scorn the mother in secret night.
With Fool’s gold they make their show,
Yet despise them both in truth below.

One, the mother of a harlot named—
The other, the bastard child defamed.
In hidden halls, in whispered breath,
Fortune and Virtue are scorned till death.

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About the Author: Sarah B. Royal

Sarah B. Royal’s writing defies convention. Her poetry and prose traverse the boundaries between structure and spontaneity, often weaving together philosophical inquiry, cultural reflection, and personal narrative. With a background in experimental literature, she is known for crafting works that challenge readers to engage intellectually and emotionally.

Her acclaimed palindrome performance play, 777 – A Story of Idol Worship and Murder, showcases her fascination with mirrored storytelling and thematic symmetry. In o x ∞ = ♥: The Poet and The Mathematician, Royal explores the intersection of poetic intuition and mathematical logic, revealing a unique voice that is both analytical and lyrical.

Royal’s collections—such as Lost in the Lost and Found, Haiku For You, Lantern and Tanka Too, and the WoPoLi Chapbook Series—highlight her commitment to neurodivergent expression and poetic experimentation. Whether through childhood verse or contemporary fusion poetry, her work invites readers into a world where language is both a tool and a playground.

Sarah B. Royal continues to expand the possibilities of poetic form, offering readers a deeply personal yet universally resonant experience. Her writing is a testament to the power of creative risk, intellectual depth, and emotional authenticity.

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