The Emperor's Speech

Once a year,
the Emperor
speaks in front of
the people.

The Emperor rambles on
about how good
the year was,
and how the next year
could be better.

The people
(are supposed to)
listen when
the Emperor says that

the coffers are
slowly filling up;
the Empire's crime
rate has dropped; the laborers
are generally happy
with their wages;
and anything else
that would
make the Emperor look
good.

Yet the people know that
these are all lies,
and that the Emperor
is rambling on
like an idiot.

Good thing these people
are not the French.
The last time they
got fed up,
they sent their
rulers' heads rolling
into the guillotine basket.


*written Sunday, 19 July 2009 for Ugnayan ng Nagkakaisang Artista (UNA)
also published in Kalasag