Rosy

By Cliff Lake

 

Rosy

 

In his opulence he sat,

He had never wanted for a thing.

Allowing himself to grow fat,

A child that had been made a king.

 

He sat at his table grand

His ministers spoke of the people’s woe.

Yet he would but survey his land,

He needed not be vexed so.

 

Blindly their court will stumble on,

Wearing their shades of rosy hue.

Someday the walls will tumble down,

And they’ll wonder how they never knew.

 

Never had he done deeds bad,

A just and noble ruler he would proclaim.

If only they had already had,

There would be naught they could complain.

 

And so the king took comfort,

And then another bite,

He would continue as he had done,

For he knew folk grumbled but out of spite.

 

So blindly this court stumbles on,

Darkening their shades in rosy hue.

Soon the walls will tumble down,

How is it that they never knew?

 

Beyond the walls the people groaned,

They could buy no meat nor even bread.

Inside the walls the king well gowned,

And sleeping soundly in his bed.

 

So the ministers slunk from the hall,

Fearing there was ought that they could do.

But on the land the growing pall,

And the king’s defenders growing few.

 

Still blindly this court stumbles on,

Behind their shades in rosy hue.

Soon the walls will tumble down,

How is it that they never knew?

 

Disquiet beyond the door,

A riot to settle the score,

Defiant and demanding more,

Compliant isn’t what’s in store…

 

In his oblivion he sat,

Somehow never hearing anything.

Intent on maintaining fiat,

A child never quite a king.

 

Installed at his table grand,

Easily ignoring tales of woe.

Gripping all the reins he can,

He’d be vexed if made to let go.

 

So blindly the court did stumble on,

Behind their shades of rosy hue.

Soon the walls would tumble down,

And they’ll wonder how they never knew.

 

Cliff Lake 5/23/2026

Copyright © Clifford Lake 2026

Location: 1100 S Ocean Blvd, Palm Beach, FL 33480, USA

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