A Tempest Loomed

The hourglass is broken now,
Its quicksand scattered about.
Two horsemen tried to fix it--
Their names were Famine, Drought.

The court was filled with merry men.
The bard, he played a somber tune
As the master drank more wine;
The others would be joining soon.

“Do we stay and see it through?”
Said the captain with a frown.
The bard just smiled and carried on
As rain came pouring down.

Shepherds, barons, mice and men--
They all cried, “Let us play!”
Time was running shorter still,
And few would see the light of day.

A tempest loomed not far ahead,
Though drowned out by the din;
The party quickly grew beyond
What was a pardoned sin.

The bard had seen them gather clouds
And watched while none paid heed;
The wise man saved a boy from harm
By breaking every creed.

Thunder clapped above the crowd,
The wasteland groaned below;
The jester killed the honest scribe
So fear could never show.

The bell began to toll for all
Amidst their mighty thrashes;
The few who understood were spared
By every other’s ashes.