The young King Zeniff watches little Noah

laughing out loud while playing in the dirt.

He weeps with joy and hopes his son will grow

to be a righteous king, to lead with love.

.

The old King Zeniff watches crown Prince Noah

who laughs and sneers, dirties his soul with pride.

He weeps with grief, aches for his son to change,

worries about the man he will become.

.

Dead Zeniff watches young King Noah fall,

laughing in fear, pushed down into the dirt.

He weeps—his son is scourged, tied to a tree—

and screams as flame rips spirit from the flesh.

.

Now Zeniff watches Noah—dead, destroyed,

all laughter gone, convulsing in the dirt.

He weeps with him—they mourn for all that’s lost—

and whispers, you were made for better things.