Ozymandias and the tear

In this piece, I consider the epic poem Ozymandias and the Pharaoh the story was written about - Ramases II. It is designed to remind us that all powers collapse - for good or bad.

With a single tear drop,

the world collapses. 

 

Remind me if you will,

who among us are innocent?

 

Like Ozymandias or his reflection, the Pharaoh,

in time all powers crumble. 

 

Despite this, we are all

micro-gods in our own storied minds. 

 

Clinging tightly, our hands grip

to our own kingdoms, so small.

 

What will the traveller find

trudging through my desert?

 

Am I the crumbling statue

Ozymandias?

 

My skin had become so thick

it dried hard.

 

But, as my kingdom failed,

my innocence bled.

 

I felt the cracks, 

and the ripples.

 

In response, a single tear drop fell from my eye,

as I acknowledged my world was so small.

 

I became like the Pharaoh, 

a destroyer of worlds.

 

My statue crumbled,

my world collapsed.

 

A single tear drop,

was all it took to bring down Ozymandias.