Classic and Contemporary Poetry
REMARKS ABOUT KINGS, by HENRY VAN DYKE Poet's Biography First Line: God said, 'I am tired of kings' Last Line: Smiled in the dark. Alternate Author Name(s): Civis Americanus Subject(s): Courts & Courtiers; God; Government; Mankind; Social Protest; War; Human Race | ||||||||
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...HOW MUCH EARTH by PHILIP LEVINE THE SHEEP IN THE RUINS by ARCHIBALD MACLEISH THE CONQUERORS by PHYLLIS MCGINLEY THE MARMOZET by HILAIRE BELLOC MEN, WOMEN, AND EARTH by ROBERT BLY BROTHERS: 3. AS FOR MYSELF by LUCILLE CLIFTON LITTLE BOATIE'; A SLUMBER SONG FOR THE FISHERMAN'S CHILD by HENRY VAN DYKE |
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