The Khan of Khans

Good Arghun, tarry yet awhile.
I’ve plucked you from the rank and file
To take a place in history.
(Your songs of battle make me smile.)
The council’s done, our course is set,
That now, good Arghun, hearken yet,
It’s time to carve my legacy
In flesh with bloody ecstasy.

Before the west was pacified
I fought against a mighty tide
Of faithless fools and jealousy
That forced my hand to fratricide.
And since those days of living rough,
I’ve taken pains to take enough.
My sole regret was having none
To sing the work my blade had done.

When acts of vengeance made my name,
The seed for all my present fame,
I wanted men to bear its fruit
So flew my flag and many came.
They, daily, dwell in muck and mud
And sing my skill for shedding blood.
I’ve bled them too, they love me still,
By right their mouths are mine to fill.

Ambitions make me more than man.
I loot and burn because I can.
No mortared stone or timber wall
Has yet protected foes who ran.
Gone soft in shelter, safe and warm,
They shake before the coming storm
And soon the world will call me Lord
Or fall beneath my motley horde.

The afterglow of rout is sweet
As honeyed wine. Each tribe we greet
With steel is offered certain death
Or pledge my flag with no deceit.
With deep salaams and prayers of thanks
Mohammedans have swelled our ranks.
Betrayals meet with swift dispatch,
A smartly severed head to catch.

As nature bids me stand erect
The captured women genuflect
For all my earthly gifts are great.
They bare themselves to show respect.
But needs demand our next contempt
Of humankind for so I’ve dreamt.
We’ll turn towards the rising day
And boldly conquer gold Cathay.

I see the doubt behind your eyes
But fear no more, your Khan is wise,
We strike because the time is ripe.
Let yellow scholars criticize
We fighting men enduring pain
While non-combatants cast disdain.
But take some consolation thus:
Their livelihoods depend on us.

So long as men are ruled by kings
They’ll bend to breed distasteful things
Pretending everything is fine
And knowing why the caged bird sings.
My acts will likely touch a nerve.
It’s better far to rule than serve
Unless the folk you’re shitting on
Have sense enough to see the con.