the dao of power

no farther says the king but the sea comes in
he laughs and tells his courtiers they are fools
those who flatter we know have hope to win
the power to turn the flattered into tools
for their use for their most wanted gain
to make the strength of state into their friend
to have their enemies learn the meaning of pain
to win at last their most desired good end
the king knows this and sits on throne to wait
and see which courtier will overstep the mark
and then move swiftly in the name of fate
to send the overreacher down to dark
the ruler's job is to sit calmly at the centre
guarding the throne and striking those who enter