We take on
the pedestals
their forges
What we put on them
the greats and greatnesses
the origin stories
that made us not this, not that
the backs that worked the land
the pouring out of life across the soil
When the time came for
You get this, you get that
We were somewhere else
Prowess, they were told
Glory, they were told
And we watched the bowing down
the emptying of hollows
Or picture this --
the lion, limbs spread out
eyes half-closed
the gazelle that trusts
bends down to drink
unsure of anything except that it’s time
time to bow low, to be humble and safe
for now
for whatever is
Now comes the trippy part
In sight of the king reads the prayer
(they had queens then too)
the sovereign, then
the sovereign of sovereigns of sovereigns
sovereigns all the way up
-- what we worship
with the bended knee
like the giraffe, which has to kneel
to survive