The Banquet – a poem

The Banquet
© by Laura Lewis-Barr 2025

The King wanted
more
even as his servants tired
of counting his gold.
The King wanted
more
attention so he gathered the people
he gathered the press
he thought of something stunning to say.
“I’m attacking our neighbors tonight,” he gloated.
The people ran screaming to their homes
to make preparations and some wept
and some protested and some went to try to make peace.
The King smiled.

The next day, no attack came and the press reported the earlier claim and
the King gathered them all and said
“I’m going to put all the bad people in cages. I know who is bad and I’m doing it tonight.”
And some people hid in their homes and some screamed in the street.
Some planned a revolt and some packed to leave.
The King’s courtiers wore frozen smiles and
locked themselves in
the largest safe and counted the King’s money
(taking a bit for themselves).

Days passed.
The King had forgotten his threats. He was golfing.
And throwing parties for his friends
who told him how wonderful he was.
But soon he grew bored. The King ordered more
decadent desserts and fawning diplomats
to visit but nothing gave him joy.
He scanned the papers for his name but there was nothing!

So the King called another press conference.
He announced, “I’m declaring martial law. I’m raising taxes for all, I’m drilling for oil in the beautiful sea, I’m declaring that all the babies belong to me.”
The King smiled. And waited for the roar.
But all was silent. The reporters stood frozen.
The King screamed, “All the press are going to my jails!”
Still nothing.
The King pointed to his mousy assistant
and pointed to the reporters standing near.
“Fix this!” he bellowed.

The King’s Mouse puffed himself up
and marched to the frozen group.
“Hey you,” he poked, “our King wants your attention!”
But the reporter made a hollow sound and fell over since
he was made of painted wood.
The King thundered over and threatened to punch
but only a small nudge toppled the group of
press-pool wooden dummies!

The King screeched.
“No press?! Find them! And find my Generals!”

The Mouse and the President scoured the castle.
There was no sound.
They got in a golf cart and toured the kingdom
but no one was around.
“Find them! Find MY people, he screamed.”
The King found his courtiers and together they searched
the castle catacombs and the highest towers.
But all was silent.
Where had the people gone?

Finally they found an old stairwell and heard the sound of a flute
and giggles.
The King pushed his Mouse and courtiers ahead and all
struggled down the steep stairs as
the laughter grew louder.
Down and down they walked until they came to a hallway.
On and on they walked until they came to a door.
The group waited and
listened to the echo of
boisterous music, howls and shrieks of joy.

The King pushed his Mouse who opened the door
to a blinding sunshine
a perfect meadow
a banquet table filled with fruits and sweets and breads.
And nearby people dancing
and playing games.
They were teaching each other new languages.
They were sharing their talents of sewing or planting or building wood furniture.
A group was reading poetry
while another baked savory cakes
and another stretched and healed each other’s aches.

The King screamed!
“What are you doing?”
“We are having a party,” said a small child. “Would you like to come?”
The King huffed in disbelief.
“Throw them in prison!” the King commanded. But most all his military were already at the party.
“Take them away!” yelled the King
But the guards and courtiers drifted toward the joy.
“Come back here!” screamed the King but only his Mouse assistant remained.
They both screamed and yelled at the crowd but the party-goers could barely hear them above their heartfelt conversations
jubilant songs and
raucous laughter.

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