Demigods

Demigods — like me, free
To take a step, lift a finger, turn a gaze
Attend to this, ignore that
Whisper or shout

Would I not do the same
Seated on the bench of justice
Upon the throne of kings —
Powerful, supreme, unimpeachable
Would I not silence
Voices louder than mine
Despise visions sharper than mine

Would it not take just this —
A lifted finger
A wandering step, averted gaze
Towards, or away
Just as I do now —
To become a tyrant
A dictator, slayer
A genocidal despot

The same man as I
Sits here, now — as the one seated
In the court of justice, passing judgements
As the one judged
As the one trampling, and the one
Trampled

Same as I —
Choking, starving, drowning
The brave, the coward — warrior, conquered
The beggar and the leper

Wherever I look —
In ages past, in ages to come
From east to west — I find none
But the same man as I

Who, then, can I blame
Who can I save
When the killer and the killed
Are both but I

When the tyrant and the saviour
Are none
But I

Among my infinite faces
Which can I mistake
For another