The thief and kingdom's contraption - a fable

The poor thief knew
In the palace was a contraption
That controlled the whole kingdom.
So the thief stole in and took it
But couldn't make it work
And knew not what the thing could do

And so was not king
But a poor thief in a broken kingdom.

A bit (c. 2013)

Why whip your horse ?
It is a bit
And bit taught
Seeks flight
Away from ever present strikes
The hedges whip
In wilderness where dwelled
A rudimentary happiness
Now in this space
The horse is lost.

Somewhere
There is a broad path
Trod by well shod hooves
The kind of which I cast
Aside, now could surely use.