figurehead

I can stare at this view, I
can't see you there
wars shaped the land, it shaped them too
still you're not there.
lead them to fight your battles,
lead from behind.
the weak die young with no significance,
no reason to find,
no future too kind.

You're name goes down in history
beside their number,
a figure impossible to see
beneath you're picture.

Your bust will sit in stately halls,
we pay to see it.
we smile at your past glory,
victories that made it.
Does it make you proud?
Your empire's gone
triumph diluted,
I can stare at this view, and
Their screams are muted.