# Empire of Sand

Author: ShingetsuMoon
Tags: Desert, Dinosaur, Dragon, Poem, Poetry, empire

#24 of National Poetry Writing Month

Poem number 24 for the month is a return to fantasy! This poem is about the fictional world in my novel Reign of Ice. That fantasy world is primarily ruled over by dragon empires although there are some nations ruled by humans or other species.
This poem is about the nation of Khval a large desert nation that occupies a the largest portion of the southern continent. They wield tremendous influence on the surrounding countries and the emperor is one of the rare and powerful supreme dragons.
The country of Khval also has dinosaur tribes that live throughout the desert constantly fighting. Who doesn't love dinosaurs?
I'm hoping to make a full length story or a short novella entitled Empire of Sand featuring the empire of Khval but that will have to wait if it happens at all.
Hope you enjoyed it!

* * *

And endless expanse  
of ever shifting sands.  
A wasteland that tests  
the endurance of even  
the mightiest warriors.

Great sand dunes that  
stretch up into the sky  
like great mountains  
marking the way for   
those foolish enough  
to wander the great  
desert roads.

Ancient monsters of  
old roam the desert  
highways. Their fangs  
and scales flashing a  
dire warning to any  
who would dare to  
cross their path.

Slaves bow under whips  
and claws of masters   
who know nothing of  
mercy or kindness.

Peace has no place in  
the sandy stretches of  
Khval. For here only  
the strong survive while  
the weak live as slaves  
underneath the oppressive  
weight of their pride and   
arrogance.

One of the greatest  
empire's in the world rises  
up from the sandy dunes  
of the great desert.

It gleams like the finest  
gold but underneath it  
lies the strength of diamonds.

It is the greatest jewel of the   
desert and home to only the  
fiercest of creatures.

From those who sit atop as  
masters to those who slave  
away as servants.

Every corner hides a secret  
and ever secret whispered  
in your ears could quickly   
be followed by the taste   
of a blade against your skin.

But all the great reptiles of  
old and all the pompous rulers  
pale in comparison to the king.

An emperor with scales that   
gleam like golden honey.   
Rainbows dance across his hide  
as the shifting sands play in the  
beauty of his face.

Elegance proceeds his every  
word and every footstep he makes.  
Such rare perfection that hides  
the most wicked of hearts.

Do not be fooled by the great  
emperor who keeps the jewel  
of the desert under his claws.

Do not be swayed by the silken  
words that fall from his tongue  
like the sweetest fruit.

Do not be taken in by eyes  
that stare into the depths of   
your soul.

For the finest beauty among  
all the dragons is countered   
by a wickedness that knows  
no bounds.

With a simple wave of his  
claws the sand shifts in  
whatever direction he   
desires.

His silver tongue spills  
forth only evil and hate.  
His eyes lust only for  
power.

Scales that gleam like  
jewels hide poison that  
burns like acid.

He is more then just  
the ruler of the desert.  
He is the desert itself.  
He is the sand shifting  
in the wind. The towering  
mountains looming like  
mighty towers over barren  
wasteland roads.

He is a shape-shifter  
of sand who can take  
on the appearance of any  
dragon he so desires.

He is one of the supreme  
and his is the Empire of  
Sand.

Source: https://sofurry.com/s/XekvMrQ1
Part of the series National Poetry Writing Month
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