Oh! How we built such empires!

The villages and towns
we razed,
Unfettered zeal
of the power-crazed.

Oh!  How we built such fires!

Ambitions burned
naked in the flames,
Upon the ashes
of forgotten names.

Oh!  How such empires we built!

Blood of sons
and daughters spilt,
Free of burden,
without guilt.

My! How still they rage and lust,
Decreeing to us,
that we must,

Forever build such empires again.


by Sam Bartle 
(© Copyright  Sam Bartle 2022)