The Kaiser

←The Smile of Reims

The Kaiser by Florence Earle Coates Fugitive verse

A Love-Song→

As rendered in Fifes and Drums: A Collection of Poems of America at War (1917):

Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany

   What spectacle more sad
Than Might by its own folly
       wounded so ?—FEC

THE KAISER

He stood alone, in sovereignty sublime,  Uniquely great,—the Kaiser! They that feared,  Yet honored him, who to the world appeared Lofty in courage, wise, above his time,  The Monarch of the hour!— Using his strength destructive things to bind, Serving the Fatherland—and, so, mankind,  Safe-guarding Peace with Power. He stood alone? How lone today he stands,  The eyes of all fixed wondering on him!  His throne ensanguined, his bright ægis dim, The murderous sword clutched in his lawless hands!  What spectacle more sad Than Might by its own folly wounded so? Are the Gods jealous now, as long ago,  That thus they make ambitious mortals mad? Florence Earle Coates.

This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1923. The author died in 1927, so this work is also in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 80 years or less. This work may also be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.