Sir Jack and the Hydra: A Modern Cautionary Tale

Listen to my tale of woe

from the olden days

Sir Jack, he was a nobleman

who worked in all the trades.

The Queens, they all adored him

for he never missed croquet

the Kings called him for gin and rum

and war games that they played.

He could dance as well as jesters

make humor with the fools

was sharp as all the aces

and strong as all the mules.

He blended in with Jokers

to hide his sunken face

could change so fast his face cards

would crumble in their place.

He could not find to suit him

a diamond, club, or spade

so his paper heart was broken

into pieces every day.

Each night he retires

to his old and bowing bed

nights shrink to sleepless hours

and he wakes to skies of red.

Once, Jack was called upon

and forced to show his hand

to defeat a mighty hydra

that terrorized the land.

It had many ugly heads

with sickly yellow eyes 

all leering near and sneering

so his focus they may pry.

And so, two swords in hand, 

Jack fought the horrid beast

but each head he should wound

another he should meet.

the townsfolk cheered him on

and called him fearless knight

and through the pain and sweat and blood

Jack kept his smile bright.

The hydra kept on growing

and grabbed him by each limb

stretched and pulled 'till death he met

the end was crimson grim.

Sir Jack was many things

compassionate and brave

but as he found, the price is steep

to work in all the trades.