A Martyr Of Perspective

They have another king now.
One brought here on a boat.
For me, they no longer bow
They would defy me for an idea,
One they cannot see,
Cannot feel, cannot hear

Oh, how we’ve fought.

How they mock me with tales of wonder,
Feats and triumphs from days past,
No matter my pomp and grandeur,
They think it fleeting, that it won’t last.
Have I not been fair, not been just?
Or is this a challenge?
A dare to do my worst?

Their respect wanes,
Their disloyalty pains,
Chapters and verses undoing my gains.
The legacy of those before me going down the drain.

Will I be a joke in history’s annals?
“The one who lost his subjects to a phantom?”
A punchline in some students’ journals?

I think not, I must draw the line.
When they speak of a will being done,
That will shall be mine.

I will come out on top,
Though it may not be with them,
I will continue to rise,
They will look up at me, hope in their eyes…

One last time, they will beg me to stop,
Knowing full well their time is done,
Their final hour at hand.

For if in my stead they don’t see a god,
Then I know what I must be,
For if they think me a devil,
Then flames I must bring,

The hell they sought to run from,
They will soon find,
Has caught up with them,
Fire and brimstone, not far behind.

~Mwanga, June 2nd

12 Comments

  1. Fay Kakai July 28, 2020 at 7:14 pm

    Deep. Well written!

    1. Ivan August 23, 2020 at 8:20 pm

      Thanks, Fay.

  2. Cynthia July 28, 2020 at 11:27 pm

    Thought provoking! Love it.

    1. Ivan August 23, 2020 at 8:20 pm

      Thank you, Cynthia

  3. Lutwama July 29, 2020 at 8:52 am

    Webale !

    1. Ivan August 23, 2020 at 8:20 pm

      Kale ssebo

  4. Dennis Asiimwe August 23, 2020 at 2:28 pm

    I think this is brilliant. Had me rooting for Mwanga!

    1. Ivan August 23, 2020 at 8:21 pm

      Thanks man, found myself wondering, what’s his side of the story?

  5. Evelyn August 23, 2020 at 4:33 pm

    Love the piece

  6. Ivan August 23, 2020 at 8:22 pm

    Thank you

  7. Tura August 27, 2020 at 10:00 am

    A gifted writer .

    1. Ivan August 27, 2020 at 11:00 am

      Thank you, Tura

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