Their unique hats eternally held in portrait pose,
One by one modeled as examples in a painted clasp.
Power passed down to wear and keep close;
Preferences in style shed in skin like an asp.
Ask I must, can they don many hats for they to compose?-
To grow - lead or destroy - within a moment's grasp?
A/N: I struggled with writing this poem so it took a little longer than necessary, but better late than never. This is an ekphrastic, a poem focusing on works of art like photographs, statues or paintings. The name and poetry form, if you guessed it, come from Greece. It's a free-for-all in terms of structure within ekphrastics, so I chose the acrostic format once more.
Within the game, there is a subtle look into the Toppats' history with their leaders in the portrait gallery. I initially wanted this poem to focus on Terrence, but I became inspired to write about the leaders as a whole, and what better way than to focus on the art featuring them? There is a slight nod to him however. Regardless, this is my interpretation - the leaders wearing many hats in more ways than one to carry out their individual methods of leadership. But who can wear those many hats and who can't?
Enjoy!