As the emperor pondered, he wandered onto
his majestic, grey marble balcony.
The scene was painted with a bright full moon,
statues, a drifting firefly, fountains, and flowers.
He started to turn away to go back inside his
palace to address the war and poverty
of his land. But just before his head turned,
he spied one of his children on the palace grounds.
The child treaded carefully so she would not
harm the gentle plants, and she ventured to
the birds’ nests to offer them some seeds.
The emperor left his balcony with a renewed
sense of hope.