At Jimmy’s red table

("to have no enemies, small is the work")

Reading time: only a moment

I run away,

the uninfluenced one.

with no sense of rhyme,

time, or thyme.

Lacking desire,

for influence,

or affluence:

“To have no enemies, small is the work.”

Talking hands and heads, though,

preach to me about keeping my secrets

secreting words, words, words,

Unlike Daniel in the den.

The influential one steps down from on high,

with disregard, a smile, and

a blind eye to my fingers

reaching out to our Scrolls,

wearing the crown of Esther.

No Persian Starry was she walking easterly,

down the aisle,

or the cousin of Pharaoh who saved us all.

From the large round table of cardinals

she surveils her kingdom, but sees not a single face.

Some leaders have only words, words, words,

and words will save none now, knew

the Prince of Egypt, turning his face

from Seti’s sun and son:

“Enough, we all leave together,

every last one,”

she never said.

Like snow falling at sunset

Under the blanket,

melts and iced twice,

Her smile says:

“I am beloved and want more love,”

Not said to the lone runaway sheep:

“You are alone; I will bring you back.”

Let others rescue and redeem them,

from the wolves. skulls and bones.

She knows Esther was a fool to lead from the front,

while sitting in purple

at Jimmy’s large red round table

so her kingdom could worship her,

listening but only,

to the susurrus of her people cry:

“We love your voice”

never shedding a tear,

leading us to the precipice.

“It's only the mirror that matters,” she knows.

Be a wolf, the wolf says,

save yourself.

photo credit: Craig MacIntosh

©Philippe du Col, 2025