A sense of joy

A sense of joy

An enviable life, his was,
belonged to a royal line.
The son of a powerful king.

He was the heir apparent.
Never knew of sorrow,
sickness or death’s specter.

Spent his days in frolic and fun
His mate, his wife, a charming belle,
presented him a cherubic son.

The nights and days of revelry,
song and dance kept him happy.
Life to him, was an unending carnival.

The sudden turn of events
showed him something
his father never intended.

The unaccustomed sight
of a wizened old man,
another of a sufferer,

and yet another of death,
filled the royal prince
with sorrow, with remorse.

With his peace in shambles,
he left the palace bright
in the dead of the night.

He found the solace he sought,
only among the poor, the lowly
and the orphaned.

He found it only when
the walls of difference
between men, melted.

Happy he was, to share alms
with the poor, destitute millions.
His joy was in compassion, in love.