Cloning the emperor,
assuming the throne
knighted impostor,
unregally grown

With hell for a kingdom,
his scepter ignites
flames burning memory,
a mirror’s delight

The queen held for ransom,
a prince in his bed
jester on fire,
all subjects rebled

A rival approaches,
the bishop a swan
his guillotine royal
—beheaded in song

(Beaupre: November, 2021)