Briefly Shift the Curtain

Coming to my senses I this man a father a brother a son
most of all a governor of this distant province
needing to know what to do, to see to feel
should I in intricate words, pompous oratory
let my people know the truth they thought they knew

for to see the distortions in all that I believed in
that I should align myself to this other clan
oh knaves they were or so I thought
so benign, bowing to my words, I who thunders
when I so wish, O that I could thunder now

yet our youth are growing less in our settlements
they follow the new warriors, leaders to conquer
other territories for their gain, o’ imprudent me
though glory thoughts do  tug my very soul
should my people be mere food growers and foragers

they promise glory of conquer of blood and kills
such that excite youth yet they forget their duties
to protect their own, their land their settlement
conquer them in the fields yet leave us vulnerable
my people know the alliance sacrifice their sons

they look to me for solution to curtail the slaughter
of their innocents in fields fuelled by tales of glory  
farm boys chanting slogans they don’t understand
to evoke fear from their enemies, who though laugh
at the puny youngsters walking akimbo in death fields

I do have a sense of self, of pride and self-worth
I stand this day upon my words and tell the lords
of war and plunder that I will contribute no more
I will die I fear and others will continue
But I swear I will say to them ‘no more’

the distant province is no more, M’Lord
there was carnage, but there is no more rebels
all will hearken unto your words
as King of the land, for the Governor is no more
his head on a stake at the village square.


*this poem was entered in a competition here. Thank you for reading.*