Songs Without Music 3

The Guards at the gate
won't back their blockade down
Not for you, not for anyone
at least not from this town.

"Our empress' wish is not to be seen."
They say over and again
an impersonal message on repeat
without the aid of a machine.

Though for you, you know the meaning's not the same
because you've seen the seams of her dress
you can recall their threading
and when they teared.

Priority's now diminished
it will be long until it's regained
a long time before the sovereign one
graces the world with her presence
in praise of a new hallowed name.

Unto the spire
will your eyes assuredly gaze
after you've been denied entrance to the palace
for the 40th in a succession of days.

You'll see the czarina
in front of her royal mirror
her servants threading up her corset
making her meager presence even thinner.

She'll smile down upon you
her radiant white teeth synthesizing with sunlight
perpetuating the illusion of grandeur
as her corset continues to grow tight.

Joy will overcome you
there will no longer be time enough to be sad
because the image of her that will persist through all days
will be of her corset pushing forward breasts
that you didn't know she had.