The good king walked past the drowning child
For there was much at stake -
A dragon had been running wild
And countless lives would be lost in its wake.
The king was praised for a level head
Since anyone else in his place
Would have jumped in to save the lad,
Forgetting the rest of the human race.
And so the people learned to prioritize
Following their great leader.
It became easier to avert their eyes
From irrelevant pleaders.
For, you see, reason dictates that
One must aim for the greatest good.
Therefore, our kingdom must combat
First, the vilest evil that it could.
Once the dragon lay dead on the ground,
The king tallied the score.
Five hundred million children drowned,
But not a single one more.
[Creative Writing Contest] Priorities
Priorities
The good king walked past the drowning child
For there was much at stake -
A dragon had been running wild
And countless lives would be lost in its wake.
The king was praised for a level head
Since anyone else in his place
Would have jumped in to save the lad,
Forgetting the rest of the human race.
And so the people learned to prioritize
Following their great leader.
It became easier to avert their eyes
From irrelevant pleaders.
For, you see, reason dictates that
One must aim for the greatest good.
Therefore, our kingdom must combat
First, the vilest evil that it could.
Once the dragon lay dead on the ground,
The king tallied the score.
Five hundred million children drowned,
But not a single one more.