A poetic look at what happened to Henry’s wives.

 Henry the Eighth

Image via Wikipedia

*

Old Henry was a king of some ill repute

And for ladies he had quite a roving eye.

He loved the little ways in which they flattered him

And thought nothing of church rulings from on high.

Catherine of Aragon

Image via Wikipedia

*

The first wife that he took was Katharine from Aragon

Betrothed to Henry’s brother she had been.

But she did not bear the son that Henry desperately did want

So no longer would he keep her for his queen.

He divorced her.

Ann Boleyn

Image via Wikipedia

*

Now Ann Boleyn was a witty and sharp tongued lass.

As head of the Church, he could take her for his wife,

But she too was unable to bear the longed for son

And he no longer wanted her in his life.     

She was beheaded

Jane Seymore

Image via Wikipedia

*

Though Henry desired a wife who’d give him an heir

In contrast his third wife was meek and mild.

She cowered from Henry and often hid away

But amazingly she bore him a boy child.

She died.

Ann of Cleves

Image via Wikipedia

*

The next wife, Ann of Cleves, did not attract the king.

He was not impressed by the Flanders mare.

He found he could not do what a husband ought to do

And both wanted a quick end to the affair.

He divorced her.

Catherine Howard

Image via Wikipedia

*

Catherine Howard, a flirtatious and emotional girl.

Was the wife that Henry really did prefer.

But she went out with younger men in betrayal of the King

And in disgust he soon got shot of her.

She was beheaded.

Catherine Parr

Image via Wikipedia

*

Catherine Parr was the cleverest of all of Henry’s wives

But with another man she meant to spend her life.

However Henry decided she was just right for him

And insisted that she soon became his wife.

*

But he died and she survived.

*

Christine Ramsay 25.4.10

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Comments (48)
  • patofgold23 on Apr 25, 2010

    oh wow…. nice job!!! i actually didnt know about this until i came accross your post!

  • Jimmy Shilaho on Apr 25, 2010

    Thanks for his informative piece. I never knew he was another Solomon!

  • CHAN LEE PENG on Apr 25, 2010

    Nice collection of Henry’s wives along with a unique poem. I was havng a great lesson from yours. Thanks and clicked you “liked it”.

  • ken bultman on Apr 25, 2010

    A poetic history teacher. Now that’s schoolin’ I could get used to. Well done….you, not Hank.

  • martie on Apr 25, 2010

    I did a term paper on good old Henry years ago. He was quite the tyrant both at home and as king.

  • Melody SJAL on Apr 25, 2010

    What a colorful love life Henry the Eighth had. Totally enjoyed this, Christine.

  • Jenny Heart on Apr 25, 2010

    What a great way to tell his story.

  • diamondpoet on Apr 25, 2010

    Very good piece and a wonderful history lesson.
    thanks Christine.

  • Ask Cash on Apr 25, 2010

    Beautifully done. I’m glad husbands can no longer behead their wives :)

  • Starpisces on Apr 25, 2010

    well done Christine! Wow so many wives…
    So double standard. Both first wife and second wife also unable to bear him a son, but first wife got divorced, second wife got beheaded, oh, I think because second wife had a sharp tongue, that’s why.
    heehee.. so interesting.

  • daintylad on Apr 25, 2010

    it’s so hard for him to find a wife. sadly, he died before he got the best one.

  • yes me on Apr 25, 2010

    liked this one lot’s Christine caused a stir up hear too…. he he
    thanks I needed that it gave me a wee lift…. cheers

  • jimbob1 on Apr 25, 2010

    CR…WOW…this is incredible…never was able to keep the wives and their demise all straight until now. You have done an amazing job of compacting Henry and his wives into such a concise form…the ability of an outstanding poet indeed. Very well done, I am so impressed…this should be mandatory reading in any English Literature course.

  • neha80 on Apr 25, 2010

    Interesting post, just today i know more about it. Good subject selection for writing articles. Thanks for sharing this good one.

  • Sharif Ishnin on Apr 25, 2010

    Always a good idea to be the last wife. :)

  • Atanacio on Apr 25, 2010

    Not only was this a good read, but clever– i admit it, very clever entry

  • Goodselfme on Apr 25, 2010

    fun recollection of the wives and told so well. TX

  • pattiann on Apr 25, 2010

    Brilliant! I liked how you added the pictures of each wife.

  • giftarist on Apr 25, 2010

    I find this very informative. Excellent post!

  • Val Mills on Apr 25, 2010

    Good for Catherine Parr! You’ve reminded me I recently started reading a novel about Lady Jane Gray, I must finish it.

  • CA Johnson on Apr 25, 2010

    You gave us a great history lesson in such an interesting way. I thought that was a great touch that you wrote it in a poem. It made it really easy to follow along.

  • Ruby Hawk on Apr 25, 2010

    Poor old Henry had a tough time with all his wives or should I say they had a tough time with Henry.

  • Tulan on Apr 25, 2010

    I studied about him in school, horrid man.

  • Tina Cassello on Apr 25, 2010

    So, you can write poetry about subjects other than your own life experiences too. That was a change. Have you done it before? It was good.

  • VTech on Apr 25, 2010

    good post

  • Authoress Terry E. Lyle on Apr 25, 2010

    Excellent article that show you did your research. :)

  • Steven West on Apr 25, 2010

    Very witty and heady poem.

  • Lady Sunshine on Apr 25, 2010

    Historical poetry. That I like. Enjoyable write.

  • PR Mace on Apr 26, 2010

    How interesting since I have been watching a show on the one of our cable channels called, ” The Tudors “, it is about the life of King Henry the Eighth. I couldn’t sleep last week and researched his history. His life and times are quite a story.

  • Vikram Chhabra on Apr 26, 2010

    Very well written Christine. You have caught the historical aspects of King Henry in a light and insightful manner.

  • Lady Fantasy on Apr 26, 2010

    Henry was a Casanova in his day one could possibly say with so many wives.But have studied him and decided I would have run away much like Ann of Cleves did.Better to run away then lose my head like Anne Boylin did.Great article and loved it.

  • stryka66 on Apr 26, 2010

    You make history live !!!

  • Kate Smedley on Apr 26, 2010

    A wonderful history lesson in poetic form from my favourite historical period. Extremely well written poem Christine, if only it was all taught like this!

  • Debra. on Apr 26, 2010

    A little royalty humor interwoven with poetry…awesome job, Christine! lol

  • Phill Senters on Apr 26, 2010

    Well done Christine. What a novel way to teach history.
    :)

  • johnnydod on Apr 26, 2010

    Ohh Christine you know how I love History this is so good

  • XXElleXX on Apr 26, 2010

    Henry the VIII was such a horrible man .. hehehe .. he must have softened-up in his old age ~ very good Christine :-)

  • deep blue on Apr 26, 2010

    I like the ending. Henry VIII wasn’t for infinity after all.

  • Christine Ramsay on Apr 27, 2010

    Thank you all so much for your comments. I wasn’t sure that you would all like this one as it is about british history.

    Christine

  • Milton H Peebles III on Apr 27, 2010

    I used to think when I was a kid, that they called him the 8th because he had 8 wives. Silly of me.
    Take Care, DreamSweet and Let Your Heart Shine
    ~ milty

  • sara20 on Apr 28, 2010

    Nice to read your Article, Keep writing more about it. Is is really Graceful and very well written skill. Thanks for sharing.

    Sara

  • lumiscence on Apr 28, 2010

    In my Fundamental English Grammar & Composition Book I had learned that Henry VIII has six wives. I also knew that Ann Boleyn was one as was Catharine of Aaragon. He had many Catherines and Annes

  • papaleng on Apr 29, 2010

    A very novel way to teach some English History lessons.. Great job Christine.

  • zoeyclark on Apr 30, 2010

    He sure was the nightmare man. It is disturbing enough to watch The Tudors. It is not enough that there he is portrayed by the handsome actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers- I still can’t stand his spolit and violent and vulgar attitude. Might be a king but wasn’t exactly a man.

  • lillyrose on Apr 30, 2010

    what a character he was! I would have thought it far to cold and draughty in the castle to be getting up to all the bouncing of wives he did. I think he ate to much red meat that accounted for his largeness and temper!

    Beautifully written and very amusing Christine!

  • mark ramsay on May 10, 2010

    This would have helped me so much at school. It’s good.

  • gaby7 on Jul 23, 2010

    My goodness! What was the matter with King Henry? How dare he embark on such a distasteful project of beheading women for crimes they did not commit willfully? I Know this took place many years ago but this bit of history has left me very sorry for those beautiful women.

  • Jacques Berkeley on Dec 6, 2011

    Excellent!

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