FAWM #5 Henry the VIII of England

Henry the eighth was a Renaissance man
He brandished a chicken leg in his hand
He had 6 wives-why? “Because I can!”
Said Henry the 8th of England

You might think that’s enough to know
(Having six wives is unusual)
But I’m here to say “Not so!
There’s more to learn at Nields School.”

Henry fell in love with Ann Bolyn
Because her beauty was unsurpassed
So he tried to fire his first wife Catherine
The Catholic church said Not so fast

Said Henry to the Pope, Dear vecegerent
I have no use for your command
I declare myself (without your consent)
Defender of the Faith of the new Church of England
Or Inventor of the Church of England

You might think that’s enough to know
(Inventing a religion is unusual)
But I’m here to say “Not so!
There’s more to learn at Nields School.”

So Catherine he divorced though before he did
She gave birth to Mary, his first little kid
And Ann was mother to Elizabeth
Which should have been enough to prevent her death

But Henry really wanted a son
To make his surname last forevermore
He said to Ann Bolyn, You’re done!
And married poor jane Seymour

You might think that’s enough to know
(Beheading your wife is unusual)
But I’m here to say “Not so!
There’s more to learn at Nields School.”

Jane gave birth to weak little Edward
But then she died.
This got to Henry and his heart so hard
So he cried.

Then he married Anne from Germany
HE referred to her as the Flanders Mare
He married young Kathryn who was just nineteen
But for his old self she did not care.

She was beheaded like Ann Bolyn
Henry picked another Katherine
This time his wife outlived him
And married his brother-in-law.
Nerissa Nields Feb. 9, 2010