"Waiting for the Goddess" by Simi Landau *Muffin Queen*

Waiting For the Goddess

            Why did our emperor get up so early,
            and why is he sitting at the city’s main gate
            on his throne, in state, wearing the crown?*

When I was young—
too young to wear the crown, more’s my sorrow—
she promised me power, wealth, glory.
And I was young.
So I took it.

As I grew older—
old enough to know better, more’s my shame—
my ancestors wept, for I, alone,
had made the kingdom golden.
And, having grown golden and satisfied in my old age,
she returned to collect on my debt.
Her price for prosperity was steep:
my living blood, my only daugher, spilled out before me.
And I was old.
So I refused it.

I am but a ghost now—
a ghost of guilt and destruction, more’s my burden—
and I cannot tell my daughter why.
I loved her enough, strong and horribly enough,
to bring the goddess’ destruction upon my golden kingdom.

The goddess is coming and she brings destruction.

*excerpt from Constantine P. Cavafy’s “Waiting For the Barbarians”