John Harms
ENG 294
Fall 1998

My Own Empire

As a child, I played in the isolated empire
surrounded by large rocks and trees,
slightly raised from the surroundings,
in the back of my childhood house of memories.
I was the one who controlled life in that empire.

My empire housed many citizens
mushrooms, grass, and pebbles.
They were allowed to stay,
surviving by mere luck,
only there with fear of eviction.
It was my daily choice.

I'm sure they protested once in a while.
I could tell when they sent their troops
to attack me with annoying bites
during the warm summer evenings,
the only time when I was vulnerable.
I would soon retaliate with an aerosol arsenal,
which none of them could defend against.

I ran that empire.
I controlled what was there.