God said, "I am tired of kings,"— But that was a long while ago! And meantime man said, "No,— I like their looks in their robes and rings." So he crowned a few more, And they went on playing the game as before, Fighting and spoiling things. Man said, "I am tired of kings! Sons of the robber-chiefs of yore, They make me pay for their lust and their war; I am the puppet, they pull the strings; The blood of my heart is the wine they drink. I will govern myself for awhile I think, And see what that brings!" Then God, who made the first remark, Smiled in the dark. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ADDRESS TO A HAGGIS by ROBERT BURNS MARY'S LAMB by SARAH JOSEPHA BUELL HALE JOHN BROWN'S BODY by CHARLES SPRAGUE HALL PEACE by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS THE RUBAIYAT, 1879 EDITION: 101 by OMAR KHAYYAM HEALTHFUL OLD AGE, FR. AS YOU LIKE IT by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE |