a bellow that clings to bones and tissue
emerges from this crouching beast
who all at once, with ceaseless splendor
asserts dominion o'er the clan
sinewed flesh and muscles bursting
his stance the rock of their existence
he carries nations upon his back
a duty realized in the womb
with musky breath and tattered chest hair
his eyes caught not a wink of sleep
from his looks a warrior still
but inside the virus rages on
he knows his days are numbered now
but weren't they always? from the start?
doubt buried, he clenches the hilt
a king's job is never done
