An Ode to .. Du Val

Temporary Setback
Lord Kenyon and Lady Charlotte walk down the ramp
Of their magenta and lime green hot air balloon Hubris,
In matching Polar Bear fur coats, wraparound shades
Encrusted with diamonds, and a hundredweight
Of subtle and discreet chunky gold accessories.
At the bottom of the ramp, a squad of burly Bailiffs wait.
“What ho, good fellows?” Inquires the Lord of the Skies.
“I’m afraid we are placing your Empire
Under statutory management, My Lordship,”
Advises a frog-faced Chief Bailiff with an insolent air.
“There must be some mistake,” laughs Lord Kenyon.
“I have just been flying at a high altitude,
Inspecting the many castles I have built in the air!”
“Ah yes,” says the Chief Bailiff,
“The problem is no one else can see them Castles.”
“My good man,” says Lord Kenyon,
With a tone of firm and unshakeable self-confidence,
“I’ve picked myself up before,
I am building a billion kopeck Empire,
And I’m a victim of Tall Poppy syndrome!”
The Chief Bailiff grins and points
At a miserable, cobwebbed and muddy hut.
“Here is your Statutory Hovel,”
He says with an infuriating wink,
“Together with a weekly allowance of three groats
And a rind of hard cheese.”
The Lord and Lady sit on boxes
In the darkness of the Statutory Hovel
As their repossessed hot air balloon Hubris
Is deflated and folded up.
“This is just a temporary setback,”
Mutters Lord Kenyon.
Just then, the Lord and Lady hear a banging
on the flimsy door.
Lord Kenyon curses under his breath,
and flings the door wide open.
There is King Luxon standing in the rain.
“Who are you?!” Growls Lord Kenyon.
“I’m the King,” says King Luxon.
“What do you want?!” Growls Lord Kenyon.
“Are you Lord Kenyon the property developer?”
“Yes!” Growls Lord Kenyon.
“I have a job I think you could be just the man for!”
“What’s that?!” Growls Lord Kenyon.
“An unfinished hospital in the hellhole of Dun Edin,”
Replies the King hopefully.
A smile starts to creep across Lord Kenyon’s face.
“Well in that case,” says the Lord of Castles in the Air,
“You’d better come in.”