Empire of Sand
#24 of National Poetry Writing Month
Poem number 24 for the month is a return to fantasy! This poem is about the fictional world in my novel Reign of Ice. That fantasy world is primarily ruled over by dragon empires although there are some nations ruled by humans or other species.
This poem is about the nation of Khval a large desert nation that occupies a the largest portion of the southern continent. They wield tremendous influence on the surrounding countries and the emperor is one of the rare and powerful supreme dragons.
The country of Khval also has dinosaur tribes that live throughout the desert constantly fighting. Who doesn't love dinosaurs?
I'm hoping to make a full length story or a short novella entitled Empire of Sand featuring the empire of Khval but that will have to wait if it happens at all.
Hope you enjoyed it!
And endless expanse
of ever shifting sands.
A wasteland that tests
the endurance of even
the mightiest warriors.
Great sand dunes that
stretch up into the sky
like great mountains
marking the way for
those foolish enough
to wander the great
desert roads.
Ancient monsters of
old roam the desert
highways. Their fangs
and scales flashing a
dire warning to any
who would dare to
cross their path.
Slaves bow under whips
and claws of masters
who know nothing of
mercy or kindness.
Peace has no place in
the sandy stretches of
Khval. For here only
the strong survive while
the weak live as slaves
underneath the oppressive
weight of their pride and
arrogance.
One of the greatest
empire's in the world rises
up from the sandy dunes
of the great desert.
It gleams like the finest
gold but underneath it
lies the strength of diamonds.
It is the greatest jewel of the
desert and home to only the
fiercest of creatures.
From those who sit atop as
masters to those who slave
away as servants.
Every corner hides a secret
and ever secret whispered
in your ears could quickly
be followed by the taste
of a blade against your skin.
But all the great reptiles of
old and all the pompous rulers
pale in comparison to the king.
An emperor with scales that
gleam like golden honey.
Rainbows dance across his hide
as the shifting sands play in the
beauty of his face.
Elegance proceeds his every
word and every footstep he makes.
Such rare perfection that hides
the most wicked of hearts.
Do not be fooled by the great
emperor who keeps the jewel
of the desert under his claws.
Do not be swayed by the silken
words that fall from his tongue
like the sweetest fruit.
Do not be taken in by eyes
that stare into the depths of
your soul.
For the finest beauty among
all the dragons is countered
by a wickedness that knows
no bounds.
With a simple wave of his
claws the sand shifts in
whatever direction he
desires.
His silver tongue spills
forth only evil and hate.
His eyes lust only for
power.
Scales that gleam like
jewels hide poison that
burns like acid.
He is more then just
the ruler of the desert.
He is the desert itself.
He is the sand shifting
in the wind. The towering
mountains looming like
mighty towers over barren
wasteland roads.
He is a shape-shifter
of sand who can take
on the appearance of any
dragon he so desires.
He is one of the supreme
and his is the Empire of
Sand.