The Sultan

In the mountains of Kashmir
Lives the Sultan of Salamandragore
During the day he kills a bunch of people
And when night comes he falls asleep
But in his nightmares the dead are hiding
And devour him
So one night he wakes up
Letting out a great cry
And the executioner shoots from his sleep
Arrives smiling at the foot of the bed
If there weren’t any living
Says the Sultan
There wouldn’t be any dead
And the executioner responds okay
Let all the rest die then
And let us not speak of it anymore
Okay says the executioner
That’s all he knows how to say
And all the rest die just like the Sultan said
The women the children the breasts and those of the others
The calf the wolf the wasp and the gentle sheep
The good honest old man and the mild camel
The theatre actresses the king of the animals
The banana farmers the writers of good words
And the roosters and their hens the eggs with their shells
And no one was left to bury anyone
There that’s just how I want it
Says the Sultan of Salamandragore
But stay there executioner
There right next to me
And kill me
If I ever go back to sleep.