“God said I am tired of kings.” — EMERSON
God said, “I am tired of kings,”–
But that was a long while ago!
And meantime man said, “No,–
I like their looks in their robes and rings.”
So he crowned a few more,
And they went on playing the game as before,
Fighting and spoiling things.
Man said, “I am tired of kings!
Sons of the robber-chiefs of yore,
They make me pay for their lust and their war;
I am the puppet, they pull the strings;
The blood of my heart is the wine they drink.
I will govern myself for awhile I think,
And see what that brings!”
Then God, who made the first remark,
Smiled in the dark.
(Henry Van Dyke)
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Based on Topics: Man Poems, God Poems, War & Peace Poems, Kings & Queens Poems, Sons Poems, Wine PoemsBased on Keywords: strings, pull, fighting, crowned, yore, robes, govern, meantime, remark, puppet, spoiling