“Nothing – At The Top” [#6/10 reflections on Stephen Greenblatt’s book – Tyrant – Shakespeare on Politics] (John 15; Matthew 26ff)

The bones found in that parking lot
Were Richard Three’s – and what we’ve got
Is spine that’s curved, and wounds of death,
While wounds of rage marked his last breath.

It seems a halberd from behind
Caused Richard Three to lose his mind;
At thirty-two he’d found at last,
At peak of power the fun had passed.

It passed for those beneath his feet;
It passed for those who craved the sweet
Taste of a power they’d not deserved;
It passed for King who failed to serve.

For emptiness was what he brought
To leadership – could not be stopped,
Or guided to a better way
Of governing to better day.

Rejecting those of moral fit,
Intelligence, or distant wit,
He mired down in fearful gore,
Devoid of upward thrust for “More”.

He had it all – so emptiness
Defined his life of uselessness
To self, and others on the make –
As obstacle, his life they’d take.

It’s like bike riders in that team
Who worked together, lean and mean,
To shelter sprinter in their wake,
Then let him sprint to trophy take.

Then what? Once trophy has been seized,
And those around are duly pleased,
There is no more, the race is done
’Cept that’s not how a country’s run.

Agenda for a better place
In self or others – else disgrace
Is what will follow rise to power
For those who lack in reign’s first hour –

A vision of a better life;
A time of peace devoid of strife;
A hope that sweeps the country’s folk
That dusk transcends when they awoke.

Lord, what a contrast to your life –
You died to live, raise us from strife;
Agenda clear for one and all;
For all mankind you took the fall.

A borrowed grave; an empty tomb;
Your marks of death, Good Friday’s gloom,
Transformed the execution tree
To symbol of new life in Thee.

Thanks Lord for this.

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