Verses for the obsequies of the Emperor Wilhelm II
ONE boon--'tis the best--
O Earth, we implore !
We bring thee a guest:
Unbar thy door.
O Earth, over whom
His plough drove red,
Deny not a room,
Refuse not a bed.
Dark Mother, whose breast
With his harrow he tore--
Ev'n to this guest
Spectres of woe,
His victims all--
Slow--slow--
Follow the pall.
Childhood, that wast
In his shambles slain,
Follow the vast
Funereal train.
Youth defiled--
Widowhood wan--
Follow the wild
Cortège on.
Thundering drums,
Tell it afar!
In peace he comes
Who was Lord of War.
Piercing fife
And clamorous brass--
Call to all life
To see him pass!
For he comes with sound
Of pawing steeds;
With aroma crowned
Of his odorous deeds;
Borne to his bed
With escort due--
A million dead
For his retinue.
Carnage, whose brows
Beetle o'er Hell,
Here is thy spouse,
Cherish him well.
Lust-in-Hate,
With thy fangs all foam--
O hail thy mate,
O welcome him home.
And thou first of all spies
This earth to o'errun,
Father of Lies,
Receive thy son.
Now, to plumed hearse
And balsam'd shroud,
Bring proud verse,
Worthy the proud:
Garland august
To the catafalque bring,
Rich as the dust
Of the heart of a King.
And in high-reared pride,
On a summit untrod--
Where is nothing beside
But the gaze of God--
From lands hate-riven
Let a cenotaph climb
To the hateless Heaven
That leans o'er Time;
And grave it with none
Of man's words but twain:
Lusitania one--
And one, Louvain.
Fashion his bed
Deep, deep;
Earth o'er his head
Heap, heap:
Load upon load
Let him not lack,
Lest his abode
Vomit him back.
Here are his court,
Empire, and crown:
Rites be short,
Lower him down.
Conquering Spade,
Cover him o'er.
He shall invade
Life no more.
