the King's Sestina

In a kingdom far away reigned a mighty king.
A majestic castle resting on hills of rolling green.
Sunlight reflecting off the fortresses’ smooth white stone.
The village below bestowed on him an unrequited love.
His ignorance blinded him from signals sounding a fight.
The consequences of his decisions would be death.

This ruler was a man who thought himself to surpass death.
Not born of a noble descent, he sought to be king.
To achieve his dreams his was willing to fight.
Greed deceived his sights with an array of vivid greens.
The self absorbed brat took for granted his mother’s love.
His childhood heart of gold sadly turned to stone.

Villagers labored to build their nation from stone.
Sweat and tears poured forth, slaves worked to death.
The man was undeserving of their faithful love.
Yet thereafter remained dedication to the king.
For they were paid with lands of unbelievable green.
Passionate civilians who were too humble for fight.

A neighboring emperor dreamt only of fight.
Plans of flaming arrows and assailing stones.
He proposed the grass on the other side is greener.
For that the emperor would trade life for death.
Anything to cause fall to the benevolent king.
His heart was thought too small to love.

War was his sole desire and his single love.
His adviser prophesied a destiny to fight.
Stories to tell of the emperor who conquered a king.
Riches to be gained more valuable than gold stone.
His cities unworried by future tolling deaths.
For only then shall they possess the greenest greens.

Troops marched across land to the distant greens.
Hardened souls who lost the ability to love.
Condemning innocent villagers to their deaths.
Warriors of destruction who only knew to fight.
They killed people, burned fields and toppled stone.
All on the path to the opposing king.

A violent fight left only blood stained stone.
The king stood overlooking remnants of his kingdoms’ greenery.
Regrettably he realized forsaken love as he approached his death.


Oh woe is you, my king,
~Chiko...