Remember Damocles

Photo by Sai Madhav

The throne, a symbolic place,

Shiny, gold-plated, and gleaming,

Beckons thee to sit upon it with grace,

That thou art forever dreaming.

If thee gained this seat-on-high

Thou’d be more cocky and proud,

As if thee’d finally reached the sky,

Looking down while everyone bowed.

But a throne’s seat brings responsibility

To the multitudes in thy care,

To help all feel there’s stability

And your decisions are not unfair.

So far, no signs to make fairness a goal

For many rules appear lopsided

Thy disregard for someone else’s soul

Shows that thy caring is misguided.

Remember that there will always be

Someone else to dethrone you

You are not a ‘thee’, nor ‘thine’, you see,

And your mistakes, you should bid adieu.

For there will always be the threat 

That another one awaits

For the opportunity to get

To be the next Head of State.

You can become dethroned

As you may very well know,

From decisions left unatoned,

That process can be swift or slow.

So, mighty one in power now,

Some things you need think through.

Lessons you can not disavow

While ruling as you do.

You should not use our country

As your personal tambourine

Or chop down the cherry tree

Just because you don’t want it seen.

Think of Damocles and his sword

That hung o’r his head

As he pretended that his word

Was stronger than the thread.

But all that kept the mighty sword

From dripping as he bled, 

Cutting off Damocles’ word

And causing him to be dead,

Was that single hair of a horse’s tail

That awaited its timely wear

That thread, strong yet frail,

Would soon be too much to bear

As selfish demands are abided

While on lofty heights you’ve presided

That continues to be lopsided

Your Damocles will be there

To bear 

The spearing from the sword,

     With no one to stop it, 

And not many to care.