Empire

Empire

The war cry sounds and battle will commence.
The laurelled leader sees the vanquished flee.
To gain another land shows perfect sense,
but empires fall. How safe can one man be?

A thousand soldiers, flanked by cavalry
Await a fateful dawn with muscles tense.
And standard bearers sway a coloured sea.
The war cry sounds and battle will commence.

The laurel crown removed in reverence.
Replaced with golden wreaths; a parody.
The foe is never offered recompense.
The laurelled leader sees the vanquished flee

Each river, field and road, each green leafed tree
And every lord and slave in ignorance
Becomes the gold-crowned victor's property.
To gain another land shows perfect sense.

Now soldiers dwell in new-found providence.
All guided by the Lord Marc Anthony
Who watches on the wing, in soft silence.
But empires fall. How safe can one man be?

The Queen of sphinxes steals across the sea.
Seduces Marc with gold and eloquence.
Convinced at last that death will set him free,
And caught up by his pride and arrogance
The war cry sounds.