Ekphrastic Poem: Young Priestess
They say I am now in charge;
In charge of the prosperity, perseverance, power,
And the future of our city.
They say it’s a great honor,
That I will speak with the gods
And interpret the best future for our emperor.
They say I am special;
Wiser and more talented than anyone else in the city.
But I wonder,
Why did it take my mother’s death for them to notice me?
But I wonder,
When I speak to the gods,
Will they give our emperor, who killed my mother and countless others, his “best future?”
But I wonder,
If our emperor’s “best future” has to be good for him?
If it leads to prosperity, perseverance, and power in our future,
Why does it matter what happens to him?
They say I’m now in charge;
They never said anything about our emperor.
They say I have received a great honor;
They never said anything about our emperor.
They say I am special;
They never said anything about our emperor.
So, I ask: who’s the real leader?
William-Adolphe Bouguereau’s Young Priestess, 1902