His Cross To Bear

A frail old man imbued
with the wisdom to know
his time, steps back from
his regal heavenly seat
of power magnified by
trust betrayed and pleads 
for the forgiveness of rest,
a retreat from Byzantine
intrigue and conquests.
His shepherd's role cast
gently aside, failure to
restrain the ravening wolves
from the sheeps' pastorage,
stepping painfully where
another passed before him
the original victim of grand
worship and human venality.