The Rule

When those to be imprisoned are grateful for their cage.

Carefully she carved from flesh and from bone
and once satisfied
Sat herself on the throne
She ruled them all by not ruling at all
An absent kingdom
Filled with absent thralls
When the smoke was made
Her glee was apparent
When the smoke cleared
The damage transparent
In another time
Or perhaps now
In another place
That is here somehow
Carelessly she carves flesh from bone
To build us our cage
That we shall call home