AN: *This is a Sestina form poem, which means it does not rhyme, but instead has 6 end words that repeat in different order for each verse
SESTINA IV- LEGACY OF THE SUFFERER
The one who had been cursed- destined- to lead
Shall never live to see his precious dream
Fulfilled, for fate, it's said, holds only shame
For signless freaks chained burning at the stake.
I condescend, deign hereby to destroy
Your worthless vision in heretic red...
There is no time for feelings, pale, grey, red
Or black when busy taking up the lead
To lose focus could break us all, destroy,
And so I must make due with futile dreams
While he of course is free to cooly stake
His claim on her- the love I crave in shame.
I always feared the others' hate and shame.
So careful not to reveal mutant red
More suited to a cut of fresh-killed steak
Than of a long known friend trusted to lead,
That never even in my wildest dreams
Did I think it could do more than destroy.
A messiah?! This clown's quest to destroy
Sends panic through the halls- I hide, ashamed.
The harsh break from his soporific dream
Can only be soothed by my palest red
Shoosh-papping. Hush Gamzee, follow my lead.
I'll calm you down from these rage heightened stakes.
For those who try in vain to change the stakes,
They sometimes wish things would all be destroyed
And leave them without this burden to lead,
But that's the coward's way, I cannot shame
My friends and paint the floors bright candy red
To relive my mistakes in bubbled dreams.
I've met his other self when we all dream,
And sad to say, I don't know who would stake
Their chance to win on this loser in red.
Insufferable! They lived on, but destroyed
Their game to make us. What a shame.
At least his post-scratch self was hatched to lead.
I fear I have destroyed his peaceful dream-
This secret shame laid bare you have just read.
I tried, like him, to lead despite the stakes.