The ghost king

Gold cherry

By lavadis

Sat, 25 Jun 2022
  • 1013 reads
6 comments
 
He didn’t believe in himself.
In his own existence. 
He did not believe 
in the existence 
of the other ghosts either,
whose numbers were legion,
which made it all the more 
perplexing, 
when they made him
their king 
 
‘I cannot be your king,’
he cried 
plaintively. 
‘Here is your bejewelled crown,’
they said 
’see how it glistens’
placing it on his head 
 
‘You cannot make me 
your king,’
he shouted. 
‘Here is your throne, ‘ they said, 
‘it is encrusted with gold and envy. 
Look how regal you have become.’ 
 
‘I am king of nothing, 
I am nothing 
all of us, all of this, it’s nothing,’
he screamed 
angrily.
‘Here is your castle,’
they said,
built on the crest of 
a jagged white glass mountain. 
 
‘You cannot give me 
a castle,’ he said,
you cannot give me 
anything. 
We have no end 
or beginning.
We have no sides or shape. 
We cannot combust or freeze. 
We cannot be touched.
We cannot ache or taste or want or die or live or hate or love.
We cannot love!’
‘And yet,’ they said, 
‘we are your army 
and we are legion. 
We could  destroy 
this world 
in seconds,
at your bidding. 
At your gesture.’
 
‘Why am I your king?’
Asked the ghost king.
‘Why have you 
crowned me 
and placed me on your throne 
and given me your castle 
and become my army?’
 
‘That is simple,’
said the other ghosts. 
‘We have made you 
our king 
because 
you are the only 
one
amongst us 
all
who can see 
the truth’
Certificate U
Poem
Poetry
Surreal

Comments

Submitted by celticman on

ah, if we could see the truth, what would we be? 

 

Submitted by lavadis on

Sadly so very true 

 

Submitted by rjnewlyn on

This is our Facebook and Twitter Pick of the Day! Please share/retweet if you like it. 

 

 

Submitted by marandina on

A thoughtful tale full of layers. Very nicely done. Paul 

 

Submitted by lavadis on

That is very kind of you indeed 

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

Lovely to see another of your wonderful poems lavadis, and congratulations on the golden cherries. Please post more soon!