The Jester Created

The Jester Created

Cameron and Joshua were the best of friends,
Their friendship was strong, would last to the end.
Both were ill, had a terrible disease,
They played together, always at ease.

Joshua thought Cam was a gifted child,
Nothing fazed him, he always smiled.
He cheered up others, never worried for himself,
Knew that one day, he’d regain his health.

Cam would kid Josh, punch his arm lightly.
Josh would hit back, but ever so slightly.
His punches were not hard, more like a touch,
Trying to best Cam, didn’t matter much.

One day Josh showed Cam a simple trick
One any could do, even if sick.
Cam learned fast, always did things well,
Became a child magician, cast ‘pretend’ spells.

He could do card tricks, pull a toy from the air,
Made flowers appear from a young girl’s hair.
He’d tell jokes, spin yarns, everyone laughed,
A favorite was the tale about his cat on a raft.

Soon he became a performer of sorts,
He amazed his friends, like a Jester in a court.
A nurse made him an outfit just for his show,
In each performance, his face would glow

Slowly but surely, his illness faded away,
His skin shone healthy, no longer gray.
But Josh remained sick, it would soon be over,
Through it all, he kept his composure.

Cam was upset at the thought of this,
More than anyone else, Josh he would miss.
One day he broke down, sobbing in distress,
Josh tried to soothe him with a friendly caress.

“It’s fine Cameron, for I’ve done my mission.
You’re perfectly healthy, now in remission.”
“Mission?  Josh, we’re not grown, just teens!
You seem to be rambling, what do you mean?”

“Cam, I am here to cure your illness.
To teach you how to bring other’s happiness.
I’ve touched you to cure you, as only I can,
Now you’ll grow up to be a great man.”

“Josh, I’m confused, how can this be so?
What’s this about me?  There’s a lot I don’t know.”
“Cam, I’m not like you and the rest, I’m no teen,
Your illness was no mystery, it was foreseen.

Your father had just one thing to give,
Handed his life to Satan, so you could live.
“Wait!  My father made a deal with the devil?”
“Well, he didn’t know his mind wasn’t level.

As usual, Satan didn’t keep his word,
Thought he’d get two souls, the agreement he blurred.
Your destiny is known, was planned long ago,
Your life’s ahead of you, you need to grow.

Satan can’t hide things, at least not this,
We always know, and it gives him fits.
I was sent here to fix it, put things right,
Now soon I’ll go, in the middle of the night.

But don’t fret my friend, for I’ll return later on,
I’ll come to get you when your time is done.
Til then; live, love, and make people smile,
Together we’ll walk, that final mile.”

Cam wanted to know more, but looked in Josh’s eyes,
What he saw there was truth, could see no lies.
He smiled at his friend, gave him their secret gesture,
Knew from that day on, he’d be called ‘The Jester’.

Jim Dorrell
12/17/12

If you're curious as to who The Jester is, may I recommend you read "The Jester" 

The rest of the poems that are about his life, love, and eventual death can be found in "The Jester Poems"