All empires fell eventually.
All broke because of various needs.
Power, greed, lust, anger, religion.

To keep his nation together,
the Emperor said
"Be Courteous."
Hold the door open.
Nod to others.
Bow to your superiors.

The Empire lasted for two thousand years.

Now, we're falling apart.
I am, you are.
Just please, all I ask
as my free verse crumbles
into prose,
please just treat me
kindly.
Take pity on my
shadow of a person,
my shaky smile,
my face pale from
hiding behind words.

I'm sorry I'm too insubstantial
to anchor you here.
I'm sorry I'm too
uncomplicated
to keep you interested.

You said I was beautiful.
You took pictures of me
in a tree.
We chatted
en francais.
You called me an enigma.
And now, you realize that
the reason you couldn't
figure me out
is because
there is nothing
to figure out.
Because, you know what?

I never hid anything from you.