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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE HYPOCRITE, by CHARLES LOUIS HENRY WAGNER Last Line: "thou hypocrite!" Subject(s): Hypocrisy; War | |||
Thus spake the Hypocrite: "I did not seek this thing, 'twas thrust upon My meek and lowly self, Oh foul the deed! Here lie my hero dead, for me they died, Nor questioned why, and all because of those Who, like a host of vandals seeking prey, Sought to destroy and lay our land to waste. Rude, lustful men, not knowing kultur's pride Deaf to the mandates from my august throne Prompted by Love, with none of War's desire, Which, if obeyed, would make this mundane world Utopia for all." The Poet Deigns Reply: "O, base, unworthy wearer of thine ermine robes, Thy acts belie thy weak and supine words, Were twenty years of ceaseless, studied toil To hoard the garnered crops that Death had sown For naught but love? Was it for this you heaped A golden minted store, and builded vast And mighty arsenals, where molten steel Ran like the freshet brooks in molds of Hell? Was it for Love thy banquet toasts were made To that e'er nearing and designed-for 'Day'? Was Love the prompter when thy men prepared With thy consent the noxious, poisoned gas To blast and kill? Was this all done for naught? Go, shed thy tears,—the whirlwinds sown of yore Have gathered force, and even now o'erwhelm And frighten thee. I would not change my place, My humble lodge, a poet's frugal life, For all the vast estates and honors thine Were consciences to be exchanged, and hearts, I sing of Love, not hate, save to thy kind, Thou hypocrite!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...I AM YOUR WAITER TONIGHT AND MY NAME IS DIMITRI by ROBERT HASS MITRAILLIATRICE by ERNEST HEMINGWAY RIPARTO D'ASSALTO by ERNEST HEMINGWAY WAR VOYEURS by JUAN FELIPE HERRERA THE DREAM OF WAKING by RANDALL JARRELL THE SURVIVOR AMONG GRAVES by RANDALL JARRELL SO MANY BLOOD-LAKES by ROBINSON JEFFERS A DROP OF INK by CHARLES LOUIS HENRY WAGNER |
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