Rooster Dance

Ruffled sleeves shake vigorously in violent motion
Feathered caps bob on the precipice.
“En garde” yells them both, images upon water,
As their slender pins poke the air and
Twirl the world. Two roosters strutting, lashing,
And finding no injury to inflict. Strut on, strut on,
Naught else matters.

Men the same, twin brothers, duel for slights.
The ivory handled rapier, engraved of elephants,
Tears jagged horror across brother’s chest.
In twain hangs the donkey crest embedded their,
Tatters bob in the wind. No blood is drawn,
The weapons have grown dull in their bluntness.

Princes fight for the throne, little idea
Of what they will do with it.
Flowery words, barbed insults, crazed
Zealotry. They strut and duel eternally,
And leave the kingdom kingless.
With sword they duel, as cannons resound
And the kingdom burns.