Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, REMARKS ABOUT KINGS, by HENRY VAN DYKE



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

REMARKS ABOUT KINGS, by                     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.





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