We used you like the queen in chess or the queen in cards.
On a velvet pillow we presented you with the royal crown.
Through you it finally touched the proud brow of a Radvila.
But for you, Barbara, it turned into a crown of thorns.
We moved you around like a pawn to suit our schemes.
We married you to old Gostautas, a heap of ash.
Then we encrusted your love in a scepter and in a grave.
We used your beauty as our revenge on those
who had slandered our name.
We wanted it to prevail over death.
We crossed our swords to bar the entrance to your door.
Sigismund’s lust we used to bestow on our house
the highest reward.
Royal mistresses die unknown. But to you we gave lasting fame.
As you pined away by your window – we immortalized you
in a royal crest.
(Judita Vaiciunaite)
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Based on Topics: Death & Dying Poems, Name Poems, Kings & Queens Poems, Fame PoemsBased on Keywords: encrusted, mistresses, slandered, immortalized, sigismund