STAND back! Stand back From my giant track! Sweep the grey dust from the way! See the pale grass bend! See the great trees rend! Hurrah! I am Lord of the day! I am Master and King Over everything— I am Monarch, and Earth must obey! Weave me a gown Of yon cloud's black frown, Which shall keep me warm as I go. Pluck me a whip From the spars of yon ship And a staff from that forest below, And this tall church-spire Is the tip I desire For the arrow I set in my bow. I am King! I am King! The whole world shall ring My mad coronation bell! Cities are shaking. Men's hearts are quaking, As they quake before Azrael. I am coming! I come! Beat, beat the drum! Let the echoes my advent tell! Hurrah, oh, hurrah! Beneath moon and star How will I revel at night! I will build me a fire Where hills stand higher, And scream and exult in its light, And write out my name, In red letters of flame, In cowering mortals' sight. I hiss and I mutter, And none knows if I utter Or blessing, or curse, or prayer. None knows what I speak; Though I storm and I shriek, None interprets the message I bear. I rave and I rage, And Earth's wisest sage Hears no more than the brute in his lair! I am King! I am King! And to me one thing Is beggar, or courtier, or pope. I thread into rags The proudest of flags, Or the end of the hangman's rope. I scoff in lords' faces. I jeer in high places. I shout on the graveyard's slope. Oh, delight! Oh, joy! The world is my toy! Hurrah! I am Lord of the day! I rule all alone On my self-raised throne, And none may dispute my sway! Then stand back! Stand back! Sweep the dust from my track! I am Monarch, and Earth must obey! |