"The Tale of Melon City" by Vikram Seth is a satirical poem that playfully critiques arbitrary systems of power and justice. The poem is set in a fictional city ruled by a seemingly just and placid king.
The king decides to build an arch on the city's main street for public admiration. However, while passing through the arch on his ride, his crown gets knocked off as the arch is too low. Enraged, he declares that the chief builder should be hanged for this blunder. The builder blames....