silent catastrophe waiting to happen

I used to rule the world,
seas would rise when I gave the word,
Now in the morning I sleep alone,
Sweep the streets I used to own,
I used to roll the dice,
Feel the fear in my enemy’s eyes,
Listen as the crowd would sing,
“Now the old king is dead! Long live the king.”
One minute I held the key,
Next the walls were closed on me,
And I discovered that my castles stand,
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand.

ps. I do not own the top description or any of the posts unless stated