The Young King

Acrylic on canvas, 60 x 48 in, 2026

A lion cub doesn't know how to play life just yet. He hasn't learned the rules, the stakes, or the weight of what's in front of him. So he does what young ones do: he plays.

Under his paw lies the most important piece on the board, the king. He bats it around and leans on it without knowing what it's worth. To him it's just something to play with. He doesn't see the crown, the power, or the whole game resting on that one piece.

We've all been that cub, holding something precious before we understood its value: our time, our talent, the people who love us, our own potential. The lesson isn't to blame the cub. It's to wake up to what's already in our hands. One day this young lion will grow into the king he's playing with. The question for all of us is whether we'll recognize our worth before we've knocked it over.

Jorrok