Here, murdered by the frenzied, not the free,
Lies the last monarch of a star-crossed line;
Anointed Emperor by right divine:
From Arctic icefields to the Aral sea,
From Warsaw to the walls of Tartary.
His country’s travail claimed a high design;
Too stubborn to respond, he shrank supine
Before the large demand of destiny.
Bereft of crown, and throne, and heart, and name,
Grief lent him majesty, and suffering
Gave him a more than royal diadem.
His people kissed the desecrated hem
Of robes not now of splendour but of shame,
And waited for the rising of the King.
(Maurice Baring)
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Based on Topics: Name Poems, Kings & Queens Poems, Fate & Destiny Poems, Grief Poems, Lies & Deceit Poems, Design PoemsBased on Keywords: desecrated, warsaw, tartary, aral, icefields, star-crossed