His Imperial Holiness

      His Imperial Holiness

That would-be king Ashoka, he was bad.

Before Ashoka turned to mildest love

And Buddha kindness, Brutal Boy had

To do some grabbing.  Kingship was above

Him since his eldest brother had the right

To take the throne.  As luck would have it, though,

That brother was away the awful night

Their father threw up blood and died. And so

When oldest brother did return, a pit

Was dug especially for him, then filled

With coals.  It happened he fell into it.

Can we assume Ashoka’s heart was thrilled

To learn big brother had been roasted?  Coarse?

(He had a glorious reign to do remorse.)