Mandate of Heaven

To whom does the Jade Emperor, The Sovereign of the Heavens above, Bequeath the crown for all the lands, Under divine clouds and starry skies? Is it the mighty, scholarly or wealthy? Is it a man of ancient and royal blood? Or is it the favored son, a great orator, Most proud, persuasive and popular? The truth is: They have no right to rule! The Mandate of Heaven is bestowed Solely to those who have cast clean Their hearts of all avarice, lust and wrath! For in sagely Confucius’ Great Learning: All those who wish to uphold the world Must first be true and order their households, And those who seek to be true must be pure! For by eschewing vice and embracing virtue, Comes a tranquility of heart that allows One’s erudite inner wisdom to shine bright, Leading to profound foresight and sincerity! Only such a person is worthy of authority, And can banish all woe and bring weal To all above the earth and under the sky, Yielding mirth for the minds of many! All rights released into Public Domain