Recompense

Prancing.

Dancing.

Tumble out of the way

here comes the court clown

dressed in a gown

ready to play.

Fat.

Rich.

Bloated they sit

staring

wondering

puzzled

at what he may say.

‘Hear ye

hear ye

Gentleman

Lads

Ladies

all shall we include

I have an announcement to make.’

Heads begin to turn

eyes narrowed in fear

his whiplash tongue

scintillating words

had been known to

destroy

raze

devastate

men stronger in power

men stronger in riches

men stronger in their supreme courts

than he will ever be.

‘Time has come to make recompense

for all the evil you have done.

Eradicating

denying

eliminating

laws that discredit you

ideas you do not like

whole groups of people

censored

when they speak the truth.’

With all eyes upon

he turned

walking away

leaving mouths agape

hearts racing

brains churning

at what he meant.

What he left them with

was a fear so great

nothing more needed to be done.

What scenarios they imagined

would be far worse than he could do.

Oct.3/18

Photo by TETrebbien on Unsplash