Thursday, October 13, 2022

a cabal, part 2


by rhoda penmarq



little did they know
after the ball was over
when she caught the servant girl going through her portmanteau

she remained calm, though inwardly coldly raging
i know you are the spawn of spiders
and midnight is almost upon us

i am gratified to have found you so easily
virtually at the stroke at midnight
the king, you know, is inclined to be merciful

but i am not the king, my child
oh, madam, you sadly misunderstand me
in this time of turmoil and madness

involving persons in the highest places
i would never do anything dishonorable
you mistake me for another

the end of the ball was only the beginning
and now that we are alone i can explain
you think it all a joke, do you?

the persons in high places do not understand
now that the ball is over
oh, little do they know!

in the furthest reaches of the empire
there are desperate people even as we speak
who presume on the king’s mercy

but it is no joking matter
and involves not only persons in high places
because little do they know


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