Thursday, November 19, 2009

#55: of the Corruptible


a Pound of Cake
a Coin was flipped
it fell on other sides

and both of them
the Heads and Tails
were sure that in good time

that both the terms
had come to pass
it landed in no crime

* * * * *

the Queen chose Tails
the King chose Heads
the Coin it rolled and stayed

and there was found
the silver bare
its faces washed away

the Court was lost
to frenzied sound
in panicked disarray

* * * * *

the Tails she said,
"For Goodness Sake
the Heads were facing Down!"

and he the Heads
was adamant,
"the Tails were on the Ground!"

the fight was long
the Cake grew stale
and neither had the Pound

* * * * *

But Heads and Tails
were unaware
of many incidents

of Coins and Cakes
and Kings and Queens
and other arguments

though lookers-on
grew more the wise
in the dilemma's sense

* * * * *

The Coins though they
had rolled away
and all the faces bare

had gave the Court
a grand idea
together they declared

"Why should the Coin
decide the fate
our Noble Ones have erred!"

* * * * *

While Kings and Queens
were arguing
to whom had won the toss

more Cake was made
the Court was glad
though Nobles still were cross

all others ate
a wealth of Cake
and none were at a loss

* * * * *

Five nations watched
and Royals spoke
their peoples full of sweets

said Kings to Kings
and Queens to Queens
"We must reclaim the streets!

Let's toss our luck
in Coins of trick
against our peasant's feasts!"

* * * * *

So all the Cake
was wagered then
against the Royal Crown

While Nobles all
had chosen Heads
Tails by the Court chose now

The Coins were flipped
and Heads came up
though Heads were also down

* * * * *

Surrendered Cake
the plundered feast
were laid at Noble's throne

but Courts, they smiled
no one did cry
or scream or fuss or groan

or fight among
their Countrymen
great virtue they had owned

* * * * *

"We see no loss
in this Coin toss
our stomachs still are packed

We've wheat in store
we need for more,
enjoy your plundered snack!"

with that the Court
resolved to bake
without a Royal Pact

* * * * *

The Kings and Queens
of nations all
succeeded in their take

but count was odd
and so they fought
for the last unclaimed Cake

the Noble's then
let plunder stale
and realized their mistake

* * * * *

"We wagered once
We'll win again
this time in even count"

the Coins prepared
with faces pressed
on either side no doubt

and waited then
till Courts had baked
an adequate amount

* * * * *

the Cakes were lined
with berries topped
though no one had a bite

at public feast
of fresh-baked cake
the kings and queens of spite

had just appeared
with greedy eyes
and Royal appetite

* * * * *

"We've smelled your cake
and seen it too
and grasped it in our hands

but spoils of doubt
and odd of count
had made the Cake turn bland

We wager now
and finally
your Cake against the land"

* * * * *

though they had lost
so recently
they could not find a trick

The Courts had grown
so hungry that
they wanted this done quick

The Royal Coin
presented then
from velvet hand and flipped

* * * * *

"Heads!" called Kings
of Kingdoms Five
they're Queens all drooling beasts

and "Tails!" called Courts
of countrymen
who wanted just to feast

the Coins had stayed
not rolled away
and Heads were found the least

* * * * *

"How can this be?"
Kings on their knees
and Tails were facing up

They looked again
Tails on both sides
the Royalty was stuck

a wooden feast
on begger's plate
sat next to Queenly cup

* * * * *

The Crowns laid down
and Coins returned
the crowd was silent then

When Royal tears
from Common eyes
Five kingdoms lost to them

but Cake was laid
into their hands
the count was now even

* * * * *

The young went first
then elderly
the berries stained their lips

then country folk
and common men
all to the feast they skipped

the Kings and Queens
of Five nations
seconds they were slipped

* * * * *

No land was owned
by any man
but each belonged to stay

And every mouth
had sweets to eat
no Royals went away

No words were spoke
No child sad
No man made to obey

* * * * *

The Cake sustained
all through the day
and well into the night

and Cake would not
support alone
but for the day it might

and all were filled
and happy then
and everything alright



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