Reluctant Ruler

Reluctant Ruler

Greatness is not for me
despite what anyone might say
and I am Queen
Queen against my will
because the world, it seems, made the choice
and set my fate
and shut the doors
and left me a throne and crown
while all I ever envied
was the commoner, the ordinary,
the anonymous Joe and Jane
with their permanently stitched smile
but here I am,
they tell me greatness is in my blood
yet I don't understand
what deal has been struck
in my unassuming name.

These lonely nights are silent curses,
even God deserted a long time ago,
jumped off his post
trotted off into the darkness
dusted his feet of the whole matter.

I was warned against remorseless blasphemy-
the big sin, the ultimate no-no
but vice and virtue are equally justified
when viewed from the inside
and how can I think I'm wrong
when I've maintained my innocence all along?

Is there any hope
or has that candle died?

I barricaded the doors early on
to cast out the world
which flung me into a dungeon
and I submit, greatness is mine today,
they stipulated the rules without delay,
but my world, I warn you
nails are shortened claws-
I have ten of these
on neat little fingers
and a despicable memory...