Retinue
At first, they’re happy to be part of the one hundred
chosen to remain with King Lear in his retirement.
The A-team. The posse. The ones who made the cut.
Then the daughters begin to ask why 100, why 50,
what need their father of one, and they lose their jobs
and disappear. No one asks what happens to them
or where they go. Their names and stories are lost.
A few probably find work with other rulers, or try
to make a living with a small shop or a farm.
It’s likely some become brigands, or serve as muscle
for a village boss. They do what they need to do
to feed their families. But, eventually, they too age,
and some wander outside, disoriented and confused.
They call for their armor, rusting in attics and sheds
or sold long ago. They insist they ride with the King.
Their children try to calm them, coaxing them to sit
and have soup. Grandchildren watch, frightened
by PawPaw’s behavior. Every story is one of loss.
Listen, and you’ll hear something being stripped away.
Listen closer, and, however faintly, you’ll hear a howl.
About the Author: A faculty member at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Joseph Mills has published numerous volumes of poetry, most recently The Holiday Cycle. His work also includes a collection of fiction, Bleachers, which consists of fifty-four linked pieces that take place during a youth soccer game.
Image Credit: George Romney: ‘Lear in the Storm,’ King Lear, Act III, Scene II Public domain image courtesy of Artvee
As It Ought To Be 