A meditation on sovereignty, divine mandate, and the ruin of kingdoms built on greed.
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You were given a land—
A time, and place—a space
that was yours. The stars colluded for you—
Hid away your stunted heart. You slaughtered the Wise child in mirth, and inherited a—kingdom of the dead. The dead worked tirelessly under heavens eye— seeking a crown— a reward buried beneath greed. I lifted my mask, and Saw them awaken. I saw a key vast, and of heft as it turned a lock. Now that land— time, Oh precious space comes to ruin. The same stars who rose you from among— the
grain forsake you. Piety chains you to the collapsing pillar.
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Yotam, Kris. (Apr 2026). Mandate of Heaven. krisyotam.com. https://krisyotam.com/verse/free-verse/mandate-of-heaven
@article{yotam2026mandate-of-heaven,
title = "Mandate of Heaven",
author = "Yotam, Kris",
journal = "krisyotam.com",
year = "2026",
month = "Apr",
url = "https://krisyotam.com/verse/free-verse/mandate-of-heaven"
}