The Hero

Sestina. I dislike describing poems in hopes that they stand on their own.

My fate was bound,
It seemed, to the role of Hero.
What chance the people had of being secure
Depended on me.
I would stop you
And end your reign of misery.

To halt our crusade against misery
You, the king, ordered me bound.
In this war, for you
The greatest strike: take the Hero -
My leadership, power, and me -
And make him in your control secure.

And I was kept more than secure,
Writhing in the misery
You set for me.
My body, mind, and soul were bound
By your magics and skills - Some Hero!
But I continued to defy you.

With pain, violation, humiliation, you
Tore the last pieces that were secure,
Rending the Hero,
Creeping in past misery.
In the madness that followed I was bound
To slip away from me.

My King, their Hero
I am no longer. Do as you will with me.
You never wished them misery,
I see that now - that you
Seek only to make their future secure,
And in your service I am bound.

The victory comes, My King, for the Hero and you.
And as for me, I am secure -
In sweet misery and blessed oblivion bound.