Empire Of Corpses

Empire Of Corpses
© Surazeus
2023 10 21

Though I lead armies of warriors with swords 
to conquer every nation of the world, 
I find I rule with glorious crown of fame 
over empire of corpses without souls 
who haunt me in tears of widows and children 
while I eat poisoned apple of despair. 

While searching for ardent woman I love, 
I walk past corpses on the battlefield 
who beg for water from the faceless sun, 
so I sit on nostalgic turtle shell 
to play sweet melodies on golden lyre 
and sing with sorrow of the death I caused. 

Seeking revenge against cruel terrorists, 
who kill women and children without qualm, 
I kill the innocent and the guilty 
caught in tsunami of angry young men 
who rampage across the land with sharp hate 
that destroys all people, both good and bad. 

Honed sword I hold upraised with bloody hand, 
which my father forged from demons of fear 
to protect me in haven of his heart, 
is terrible demon with lust for blood 
because it kills with indifferent contempt 
to sate thirst for revenge that drives my heart. 

After I kill tyrants, oppressors, thieves, 
rapists, slavers, cheaters, killers, and liars, 
to free innocent people of the world 
from self-blinding greed of their tyranny, 
I throw sharp sword in deep lake of despair 
then win hearts of the people with sad songs. 

Since our world that spins in starless void 
was ruled by hungry dinosaurs of rage 
we mice, evolved to humans, fight to live 
by forming gangs ruled by messiah god 
who leads us into holy war for peace 
till he rules empire of corpses with love. 

Despairing at beauty of human souls 
that glow with life for too-short span of time, 
I give away gold and jewels of pride, 
then sit beneath the fig tree of lost hope 
to perceive repeating patterns of change 
that cause our bodies to be born and die. 

Half blind from sunlight gleaming in my eyes, 
I stand on river shore of timeless faith 
to note that water flows in bounds of truth, 
so I wash blood of the dead off my hands, 
then pray for release from slow wheel of time 
while I rule empire of corpses who sing.