Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE ABSOLUTE MONARCH, by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE ABSOLUTE MONARCH, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: A mighty king, long, long ago
Last Line: Transformed the king into a baby!
Subject(s): Courts & Courtiers


A mighty king, long, long ago,
With voice of grief and face of woe
To his Court Wizard did complain:
"Sir Wizard, I am said to reign,
But what with councillors, and hordes
Of bishops, judges, generals, lords,
Prime ministers, and those they call
The People, I've no right at all
To call my life my own. They talk
Of duty, laws and charters, balk
My wishes, dog my steps, torment
My every hour with precedent,
State tactics and prerogative,
Till I would rather die than live.
I bid thee then, -- if aught I hold
Of royal power to bid, -- be bold,
Take thou my crown, I grudge it not,
And give me in exchange a lot,
I care not how confined it be,
Wherein is absolute sovereignty!"
Then groaned the wizard sad, but still
Received the crown against his will,
And swift, with wand and astrolabe, he
Transformed the king into a baby!





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net