<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">The Kings</h1><p class="byline"> HUGH J. HUGHES <br xmlns:exist="http://exist.sourceforge.net/NS/exist" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"/><span class="smallcaps">IN Farm, Stock And Home</span></p><div class="stanza"><p class="line">THE Kings are dying! In blood and flame </p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Their sun is setting to rise no more! </p><p class="line">They have played too long at the ancient game </p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Of their bluer blood and the bolted door.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Now the blood of their betters is on their hands--</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The blood of the peasant, the child, the maid </p><p class="line">And there are no waters in all the lands</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Can bathe them clean of the dark stain laid.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">They have sinned in malice and craven fear-</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">For the sake of their tinsel have led us on </p><p class="line">To the hate-built trench and the death-drop sheer,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">But the day will come when the Kings are gone.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">The Kings are dying! Beat, O drums,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The world-wide roll of the democrat!</p><p class="line">O bugles, cry out for the day that comes</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">When the Kings that were shall be marveled at! </p></div></body></html> · Great War