— kingdom of the dead

               don't forget how he rose

                from the murky waters

                of his father's sins,

                clinging to the blood soaked

                crown - his mother's only legacy;

               and when the first words

                fell from his chapped lips,

               they were of pain and betrayal

                and death.

               but the dead listened,

               and the dead obeyed.

               don't forget how the bony fingers

                gripped the sword they were

                destined to hold,

                trembling and sweating and shaking

                because he never wanted any of this;

               the echoes of the sinners' screams

                were his only lullaby,

               and every night

               he would weep with them.

               but the most important thing is

               to never forget the damned boy

                who grew into a broken prince

                with black holes behind his eyes

               and deafening silence inside his

                sewn lips.

               yet they loved him,

               and they accepted him

            kingdom of the dead,

            crown your prince.