The Wise King Poem by Randy McClave

The King called his generals and said
As he looked upon all that he owned and did acquire,
"Pretty soon I will be dead"
"Soon, someone else will be the buyer".

There the King laid dying,
So, he called his generals and told them his three final wishes,
He said this while his family was there crying
Not one of them were a bit suspicious.

I want the very best doctors to carry my coffin
I then want my generals to scatter my wealth to the graveyard,
Leave my hand hanging in the wind for all to see often
Those are my three wishes as if written by a bard.

His generals were confused and asked him to explain
The reasoning behind the 3 wishes he had asked,
Then they reasoned with each other, was he insane
Wanting those wishes as tasked.

Then the King quickly and calmly replied
Why he wanted doctors to carry his coffin at his request,
When he felt death lying at his side
It's to show that even the best doctors are powerless in front of death.

I want the road scattered with all my wealth
So, everybody can see that riches gotten on earth stays here,
Even if you have marvelous health
And you hold onto no worries or debt or fear.

I want my hands to swing freely in the wind
So, that people understand we are born empty-handed and we leave the same way,
We all are poor souls seeking judgement in the end
And time which is most precious is now gone, I say.

Soon death would be felt by the King
Now as he looked back at his conquests and adventures and life's prize,
Then the generals and his subjects from his victories would all sing
The coming of death is what truly made him wise.

Randy L. McClave