When the embers glow,
Does the emperor know
That soon the hammer will fall
To crush every bone?
Can he see that his truth
Is lit by lies
Perpetuated by fools
To stifle the dreamers?
When the blaze rages
Do rebel rampages
Cleave his head
In the revolution’s end?
Can he see that his lie
Is stroked by faith
In love and cruelty
To condemn the honest?
When both are blinded by smoke and fear
Do they not see the mirror?
Jarod Yu (he/him), is a current undergrad, set to graduate in 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Classic and Ancient Mediterranean Studies from University Park.