Title: What Nightmare This
Fandom: Silmarillion, Original
Challenge: Nightmare
Other prompt: Current events
Rating: G
Length: 214
Content notes: N/A
Author notes: Thanks go to Runa for encouragement & sanity-checking.
This isn't about any particular Eldarin king or lord in the Silmarillion, though it could apply to several rulers of the Edain.
Summary: Processing an abject failure of leadership



What nightmare this, where chaos strives
O not to lead, but drive, push, unwilling drag
Or trample neath a fond-imagined boot.
See the shallow might, the hollow strength
Clamoring in spectacle and pride
Of lordship only pretense, merely show
Perilous enough in peace, health, plenty,
Yet here and now is none of that.

What is Lordship, anyway?
The schooling songs say duty,
To lead, to care, to moderate,
To be just and true and hold the need
Of all one's followers, one's people,
The one who choose to put their hands
Hearts, minds, song and very lives
Beneath your banner, at your command.

It is not glory. Nor privilege, nor leave to act
Unbridled, uncontrolled, without care for all
And once chosen, the task accepted,
the circlet bound on brow,
mouth and hands lord-sworn
All within your purview is your duty.
You cannot pick and choose.
They may choose another lord: Their choice, not yours.

Lay down the sceptre, tawdry in your hands
Vacate the dwelling of the people
That you ignore, subdue, deny all duty toward
Better you should walk away
Let fitter, willing, caring hands take up the work,
Labor to set right the desperate disarray,
Attend the crying out of all the people of this land
And let the nightmare end.