A poem about the demon of harmless actions.

An empty hall with cracked columns Sits an olden king with olden heart On the throne of an ancient hollow A man just as hollowed

Save a subtle fatigue that strings Still yet an emotion, a curiosity Memories of a long rule and All the things a ruler must do Little decrees, actions and needs

What became of the bard in the court Who on a long moon did sing too slow Or the jester with the jokes too bold Smaller and smaller the king asks What of the audience who laughed? Or the couples that danced to the tune All of these people, the king wondered What did he do?

He is surrounded by others, though The hall is as empty as he is concerned It is an old place with old mastery Where but a mortal who wears a metal crown May touch a gentle wind and force it To a murderous storm some distance Far and away and unknown to him

Deeds so small as to be thoughtless words Or passing sentences dripping accidental teeth Tiny gestures of respect or derision Making minute by minute heroes or villains These weaves are endless as fate's skein The thoughts embed in the king As a drunkard drowned in wine

A noble leans forward to ask the honored king Oh and aye what troubles the liege?

The king sits tall and straight, the room filled How long did his thoughts wander their wonder?

The horrible hollowed fatigue screams in him By the act of merely sitting deep in thought Did he create some sort of awful thunder Down some road where he cannot see Likely not even be?

All these things, it must be the ache Of all those thinking people such as he All those past kings, they too must think What did we do?

What small thing did we do That changed ones we never knew Who they too didn't know Formed by our actions of little decree

Sir, the noble asked, my liege?

The king goes gaunt white Then hides it too For who knows what miniature detail Painted the world and all the sets Of all its indecipherable scenes On all the plays who in each speak a line That lead to an end of all these days

That demon of Watashiato Lord of harmless actions Haunts us everywhere