Waving Green and Gushing Red

Shikoh came in chains
through the open gate
of the kingdom that had shown him
how much it can hate.

Shikoh, bestrode the boar,
chained, he rode to death
death that came no closer
than a step at every breath

His eyes had cried more tears
than a prince's ever could
The prince who'd always known
lone goodness does no good.

And yet he'd roared an army
through a battle-tired gulf
to defeat his own brother
by whom he'd now be killed

his ankles nailed together
his arms behind his back
his head, hung in defeat,
tilted, as the boar sat.

When the beast had come to rest
'fore the headsman, Shikoh looked
one final time at the throne,
and the crown of a kingdom, crooked.

Executioner swung his sword,
And the metal cut the air
the thirsty blade then struck his neck
and stripped his insides bare.

Blood raining from its wound,
the body slumped, without the head.
With Shikoh, justice left
the brazen court where all was red

Red, the carpet, red, the throne
Red, the blood and red, the hest
Red, the kingdom, red, its king,
Green, its flag and red, the rest

the body jerked and twitched
as it lost its own control
the Alamgir then smiled now that
none in his court had a soul

By the hair, the head was pulled
to break the final strands,
that joined the skull to the skeleton,
but were too weak to stand

the force of a ruthless man,
who then placed it on a plate
and served it to the Alamgir,
the king, who couldn't wait

As the head was brought to him,
The emperor couldn't but stare
at the symbol of his victory:
his dead brother's glare

Angst rushed through Aurangzeb,
He drew his vicious knife
and spat on his brother's pale face
before he slashed it thrice

Blood gushed from the scarred skin,
A white orb popped out of place
and fell atop the royal seat,
much to the king's disgrace

The orb, the eye of Shikoh
had hit the throne like a curse
"He still eyes my throne,"
laughed the king, and his courtiers.